Hempel has hired Emilie Barriau as Chief Technology Officer, a new position in the Executive Group Management with a focus on innovation. The new Technology Executive Vice President area includes R&D, Procurement, and Sustainability to drive innovation. Barriau has extensive international experience as a senior innovation executive, with 15 years at Henkel Adhesives Technologies in various global roles. She joined Ecolab in 2021 to lead the Research, Development & Engineering organization in Europe and IMEA. Barriau is originally from France and has lived and worked in France, UK, USA, and Germany, where she is currently based. She holds a Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry from the University of Mainz, Germany. Over the coming months, she will relocate to Denmark.
Michael Hansen, Group President & CEO of Hempel, expressed the company’s commitment to innovation and customer value. Elevating innovation in the executive leadership team aims to foster a culture of creative thinking and groundbreaking ideas to deliver on the strategy, particularly in technology and sustainability leadership. Hansen welcomed Barriau to Hempel, highlighting her ability to connect with others, strong business acumen, and customer focus.
Emilie Barriau shared her excitement about joining Hempel as Chief Technology Officer to drive innovation by uniting R&D, Sustainability, and Procurement to accelerate sustainable solutions with customers, suppliers, and partners. She sees great opportunities for Hempel to lead with differentiated technologies that create value not only for customers but for the coatings industry as a whole. The investment in innovation will contribute to a more sustainable world.