LEADING CLARIANT BEYOND THE CRISIS: New CEO HARIOLF KOTTMANN seeks to complete a long restructuring at the Swiss specialties firm

ASKED WHAT his message would be to the analysts he planned to visit on a U.S. tour this month, Hariolf Kottmann, newly appointed chief executive officer of Clariant, said it would be one of reassurance: “Don’t worry, there is a life after the crisis.” Which crisis, one might ask? Although Kottmann was clearly referring to the recession, which is pummeling the entire specialty chemical sector, Clariant has been experiencing a prolonged crisis of its own. Kottmann, the firm’s third CEO since 2003, is faced with steadying the course of a company that has gone through six years of restructuring, divestment, and downsizing, largely associated with a disastrous foray into fine and pharmaceutical chemicals. Although other chemical makers made similar ill-fated moves, the subsequent churn at Clariant has many industry watchers—and Clariant employees—anxious about the company’s direction going forward. Stabilizing Clariant will not be easy, given that the company faces yet another round of layoffs. Kottmann ...