Polyolefins and fertilizers major Borealis AG, Vienna, has appointed Leo Alders as acting CEO of its fertilizers, melamine, and technical nitrogen business (Borealis’ nitrogen business), effective Sept. 1, 2021. Alders currently is Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Borealis’ nitrogen business.
In his new role, Alders will be succeeding Rainer Hoefling, who is stepping down from his current role as CEO. Hoefling’s next assignment within the broader Borealis group of companies will be announced separately, the company said.
Alders joined Borealis in 1994 as Engineering & Maintenance Manager, and was appointed Vice President Base Chemicals in 2018 before taking on his current role of COO of Borealis’ nitrogen business.
Borealis in February announced it had started a process to divest its nitrogen business unit, which distributes around 5 million mt/y of fertilizers in Western, Central, and Southeast Europe (GM Feb. 5, p. 1).
Borealis also announced the appointment of Thomas Reutter as Vice President Product Asset Management and Supply Chain, effective Aug. 1, 2021.
Reutter joins the company from Dow and brings extensive product asset management and supply chain experience. He joined Dow in 2008, and most recently served as Senior Product Director for Linear Low Density Polyethylene, based in Switzerland.