Interim management for the chemical industry

Temporary leadership expertise for chemical companies, production facilities, and sustainable transformation

Why interim management in the chemical industry?

The chemical industry is under enormous pressure: raw material volatility, skyrocketing energy costs, strict regulatory requirements, and the shift to sustainable processes require managers who can act immediately.

Interim managers bring proven solutions for complex chemical crises to the table—without any training period. They stabilize critical production facilities, optimize process efficiency, manage safety and compliance requirements, and accelerate the transformation to green chemistry. External chemical expertise pays off, especially in production crises, process optimizations, or regulatory challenges.

Silhouette von Interim Managern bei der Planung in großem Bürogebäude

XQI Partners

All XQI Partners

Looking for a Interim Manager? Our Partners will find the optimal solution for you – tailored, fast and discreet.

Holger Rosemann

Managing Partner, Düsseldorf

Tapani Hänninen

Managing Partner, München

Robert Butz

Managing Partner, München

Georg Larch

Managing Partner, München

York von Massenbach

Managing Partner, München

Ilka Herzog

Managing Partner, Düsseldorf

Stephan Franken

Managing Partner, Düsseldorf

Dirk Niederberghaus

Managing Partner, Düsseldorf
All XQI Partners

Transformative Interim Partner

“What began as a planned sale turned into our greatest success. The interim CEO didn’t just restore profitability—he revealed the true potential of this business unit. Today, it’s not only our highest-revenue segment but also embodies the strategic vision guiding our family business into the future.”

An international specialty chemicals family enterprise
View case study

What you can count on

  • Chemical expertise
    Interim managers with in-depth understanding of process engineering, plant operations, quality control, and specialty chemicals.

  • Safety & compliance
    Proven experience in compliance with SEVESO, REACH, GHS, and other chemical regulations, as well as process safety management systems (PSM).

  • Raw materials & energy management
    Expertise in raw materials procurement, energy optimization, and supply chain management in a volatile market.

  • Sustainability transformation
    Expertise in the transition to sustainable processes, circular economy, and decarbonization.

Your leaders for success

We place experienced interim managers who can make an immediate impact in the chemical industry – with clear goals and measurable results:

  • Crisis managers with strong implementation skills: Transform production losses, safety incidents, and compliance deficits into safe, regulatory-compliant operations.

  • Strategic thought leaders for the future: Realign production facilities and business portfolios – for sustainability and profitability.

  • Industry experts with practical knowledge: Understand the process engineering, safety, and regulatory specifics of the chemical industry – without any training period.

Contact us

Areas of application for interim management

Interim executives in the chemical industry act as catalysts for change – they bring expertise, experience, and implementation skills exactly where they are needed:

1. Operations management & plant management

  • Taking over plant management to stabilize production facilities and processes.

  • Implementing operational management systems and continuous improvement.

  • Optimizing output, energy consumption, and raw material efficiency.

2. Safety, plant safety, and compliance

  • Establishing or restructuring process safety management systems (PSM).

  • Managing safety-critical incidents and emergency procedures.

  • Ensuring compliance with SEVESO, REACH, GHS, and other chemical regulations.

3. Raw Material & Energy Management

  • Reorganizing procurement networks for critical raw materials and catalysts.

  • Optimizing energy consumption and switching to renewable energies.

  • Establishing supplier diversification and raw material price hedging strategies.

4. Quality & Analytics

  • Establishing or restructuring quality control and laboratory systems.

  • Implementing analytical quality assurance procedures and GLP standards.

  • Management of batch recalls and quality crisis management.

5. Sustainability transformation & decarbonization

  • Leading the transition to green and sustainable chemical production.

  • Implementation of circular economy and recycling processes.

  • Reduction of CO₂ emissions and decarbonization of energy consumption.

6. Human resources management & skilled worker development

  • Stabilization of skilled worker teams during production conversions or staff turnover.

  • Establishment of training structures for new processes and safety technologies.

  • Succession planning and development of shift and plant managers.

7. Strategic restructuring & business development

  • Management of site relocations, new plant start-ups, or capacity expansions.

  • Integration of acquired chemical plants and production sites.

  • Portfolio restructuring toward profitable specialty chemicals and sustainable products.

Why choose us?

  • Experienced chemical industry experts with proven expertise in crisis management, digitalization, and strategic leadership.

  • Rapid identification and selection of suitable interim managers for your specific requirements.

  • Flexible solutions for bridging vacancies, transformation, or turnaround—ready for action within a very short time.

About us

Successfully Implemented Chemical Industry Projects

All Case Studies
Automotive

Transformation of the IT Organization: From Firefighting to a Delivery-Capable Business Partner

How an international automotive group transformed its IT from firefighting to a reliable business partner in just 28 months

IT Interim, Start Up & Scale Up
Mechanical engineering

How a company strengthened delivery reliability and market position through process optimization, compliance, and M&A support.

Operative Excellence in crisis: Restructuring in plant and machinery engineering.

COO Interim
Construction

Operative excellence & growth: interim coo/cso leads transformation in metal processing company to success

How an interim COO and CSO harmonized three international locations, digitized processes, and increased sales performance by 30% in 12 months – despite geopolitical challenges.

COO Interim, Interim Sales and Distribution
Retail

Operational restructuring and refinancing > EUR 2 billion

How a Company Refinanced €2 Billion in Just 15 Months.

CRO Interim
Healthcare

M&A program management in the exit phase

Strategic Divestiture: How One Company Sold Three Business Units in 12 Months.

Private Equity and Family Offices
Private Equity & Family Offices

Transformation of the Internal Group Audit

How a family equity firm co-sourced its internal audit function in 9 months.
Retail

Stabilization & Transformation of the IT Landscape

How a company seamlessly managed a CIO transition in just 6 months

IT Interim
Consumer Goods

Supply chain optimization

How a company increased OTIF by 33% and DPA by 20%

Project Management Interim
Consumer Goods

Scaling digitally to expand customer reach

Within nine months, a textile company achieved +60% revenue

International Interim Manager

We bring chemical expertise to the forefront—for chemical companies and production facilities.

Leverage our decades of chemical industry expertise and execution power – we deliver tailored interim management solutions for your specific project, ensuring secure, compliant, and cost-effective operations.

Contact us