Industrial & Performance Chemicals Executive Search Expertise
Kelham Partners delivers executive search for manufacturers and distributors of industrial and performance chemicals supporting leadership hiring across production, commercial, and technical functions.
We work with global producers, specialist formulators, and private equity-backed platforms supplying essential chemical inputs to sectors including manufacturing, automotive, agriculture, infrastructure, and energy.
Whether you’re repositioning a business unit, scaling your international presence, or strengthening a leadership team post-acquisition, we help you find the talent to lead through complexity and drive performance.
Who We Support
We work across the value chain of industrial and performance chemistry, including
- Base & commodity chemicals
Solvents, acids, alkalis, inorganic compounds - Speciality additives
Surfactants, defoamers, dispersants, anti-oxidants, stabilisers - Catalysts, inhibitors, and resins
- Lubricants & metalworking fluids
- Agrochemical intermediates & actives
- Textile, paper, and leather chemicals
- Fuel additives, performance enhancers & treatment chemicals
- Infrastructure and energy-related chemicals
Many clients in this segment operate in high-volume, lower-margin environments where operational efficiency, supply chain reliability, and strong customer relationships are critical.
Typical Roles We Recruit
We specialise in international recruitment across
- Commercial
Sales Directors, BU Managers, Strategic Account Leads and Sales, Business Development and Account Managers - Operations
Site Directors, Production Managers, Continuous Improvement Leaders - Technical & Innovation
Application Chemists, Formulation Scientists, Heads of R&D - Executive
C-Suite, Managing Directors, Division Heads, Group Commercial Directors
Global Network. Sector Precision.
We understand the dynamics of this sector, from managing complex toll manufacturing relationships to balancing supply chain resilience with cost control. Our international executive search capabilities allow us to engage specialist talent in both mature and emerging markets, across commercial, technical, and operational leadership.
Whether you’re a global chemical producer or a regional distributor, we deliver with discipline, speed, and transparency.
Case Study
Supply Chain Director – Speciality Additives Company
Client
A European manufacturer of performance additives used in coatings, construction chemicals, and metal treatments. Mid-sized, privately owned, with a global customer base.
Brief
Hire a Group Supply Chain Director to centralise procurement, streamline logistics across three production sites, and lead a digital transformation project focused on inventory and fulfilment.
Challenges
- Multiple legacy systems and siloed regional operations
- Required leadership across logistics, planning, and procurement
- Needed a mix of operational expertise and strategic change capability
Our Approach
We delivered a retained search focused on candidates from adjacent chemical sectors (performance materials, industrial fluids, surfactants) with strong systems and transformation experience.
Outcome
The chosen candidate joined from a global coatings business with experience implementing SAP across supply chain functions. Within 9 months, they had unified planning processes and improved OTD performance by 21%.
Hiring in the industrial or performance chemicals sector?
Let’s connect and discuss how we can support your next strategic hire.
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