Syensqo: New Board Chair, Two Top-Level Departures
Syensqo announces the appointment of Heike van de Kerkhof as the independent chair of its board of directors, effective March 3, 2026. She succeeds Rosemary Thorne, who steps down from her role today and will resign as a board member on March 31, 2026.
Leadership Transition at Syensqo
Heike van de Kerkhof, who has been an independent director at Syensqo since December 2023 and chair of the nominations committee, will now lead the board of directors. She takes over from Rosemary Thorne, who resigns with immediate effect as chair and will step down from her independent director role on March 31, 2026. Heike van de Kerkhof is a seasoned international executive with over thirty years of experience in specialty chemicals, materials, and energy sectors. She served as CEO of Archroma from 2020 to 2023 and held leadership roles at BP, Castrol, Chemours, and DuPont. She has also been on the boards of Neste, OCI N.V., and Goodpack.
Board Changes and New Appointments
Roeland Baan resigned from the board of directors on March 2, 2026, for personal reasons, after making significant contributions as a member of the ESG and Audit and Risk Committees. Miguel Mantas, former CEO of Allnex, has joined as an independent director. He brings extensive experience from large industrial groups and expertise in growth, portfolio transformation, and cross-border operations. The nominations committee plans to propose at least one more independent director in the coming months. This board evolution follows the appointment of Mike Radossich as CEO on January 1, 2026.
