Kerry Pianoforte, Editor 07.01.19
CW: What is your experience working in the paint and coatings industry?
Petersson: I joined Hempel as COO in March 2015. As part of the Executive Management Team, I have been one of the drivers of the global transformation that Hempel is currently going through. The objective is to transform Hempel into a leading global coatings company. We are going for leadership in the segments where we choose to compete
CW: What unique skills/perspective do you bring to the CEO position?
Petersson: I think that is a question for the Board of Directors, but I will say that with my more than four years in Hempel, I have obtained solid and broad knowledge about our business, the markets we are in, and the challenges and opportunities we face. At the same time, I have prior experiences from several other global companies. Let me put it this way: Had I not been convinced that I could fulfill the position as CEO, I would never have accepted the offer.
In terms of perspective, I am approaching the task with the attitude that we – and with “we” I mean all 6,600 skilled employees in Hempel – stand united in solving the tasks we must solve. We care for each other while doing business. We stand united with the task at hand and help each other, and always with one thing in mind; to create value for our customers.
CW: What makes Hempel a successful company?
Petersson: Hempel is a success. Thanks to the trust our customers around the world have shown us for many, many years, and thanks to all the employees in Hempel, who are working on creating value for our customers daily.
Our continued success is also tied to our customers. We need to constantly focus and increase our attention to the customers and their needs. In other words: We will be even more relevant to our customers today than we were yesterday. If we do not create value for our customers, then everything else that we do will not matter.
CW: In what areas will you be focusing on improving Hempel (acquisitions, organic growth, etc.)?
Petersson: We will focus on executing our existing strategy. We have a job to get done, so we are ready for the next step, our next strategy phase. Furthermore, we want to grow. Hempel has an ambitious growth strategy. In short; we want more family members. This will happen through acquisitions. At the same time, we must grow organically, and that leads us back to our increased customer focus. It is very simple: satisfied customers, who feel they are seen, heard and have their needs covered, will result in growth. I am proud to say that in Hempel we are doing our utmost.
CW: What is your strategy for growth for Hempel?
Petersson: We will grow both organically and by acquisitions – and we must grow globally in all the segments in which we operate. In Hempel, we have the objective of becoming twice as big as our current size. We want to be a €3 billion business.
Lars Petersson is the new CEO of Hempel.
