Stephan Sielaff Takes Over as CEO of Schill+Seilacher Group
The chemical engineer brings around 30 years of experience in specialty chemicals and related industries, with a focus on customer collaboration, international markets and application expertise.
Stephan Sielaff became Chief Executive Officer of the Schill+Seilacher Group on October 1, taking responsibility for the next phase of development at the internationally active specialty chemicals company. A chemical engineer by training, Sielaff brings around 30 years of industry experience, including senior positions at Unilever, Lenzing AG and, most recently, SSI SCHÄFER Plastics.
His appointment comes as the Group continues to serve manufacturers and processors of man-made fibers with process auxiliaries for staple fibers and continuous filaments, alongside solutions for the functionalization of nonwovens.
Specialty Chemicals for Man-Made Fiber Processing
Schill+Seilacher provides process auxiliaries designed to support the production and further processing of man-made fibers. Its solutions include tailored spinning finishes that facilitate reliable and efficient processing while providing fibers with properties suited to their intended applications.
These properties range from a soft feel to controlled water absorption or repellency. The Group's products serve a variety of sectors, including apparel, hygiene products, mobility, construction and infrastructure.
Sielaff views the combination of technical experience and continued product development as an important factor in specialty chemicals.
“Tradition becomes a competitive advantage in specialty chemicals when experience is continuously translated into new solutions. Schill+Seilacher has extensive application expertise across the production and further processing of man-made fibers. The key is to turn that knowledge into tailored solutions together with our customers.”
Customer Collaboration and International Growth
Strengthening relationships with customers and partners is a key priority for Sielaff. He plans to sharpen the organisation's focus on markets, customers and partners while increasing international collaboration across the Group.
“We already have an international footprint. Now we want to make better use of the strength of our Group - thinking globally, acting together and staying closer to our customers,” says Sielaff.
His approach centres on making greater use of the Group's international presence and application expertise to develop solutions in collaboration with customers.
Stephan Sielaff's Career in Chemicals and Industry
Sielaff began his professional career at Unilever, where he held positions across operations, innovation and product development. He later became Innovation and Engineering Director for Home and Personal Care Europe.
He subsequently held further roles at Symrise before becoming Chief Operating Officer of Swiss specialty chemicals company Archroma. He went on to serve as CEO of Austria-based Lenzing AG and most recently led SSI SCHÄFER Plastics as CEO.
His experience across these companies includes leadership responsibilities in specialty chemicals, product development and international industrial markets.
Schill+Seilacher Outlines Priorities Under New Leadership
Dr Peter Dürolf, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Schill+Seilacher Group, highlighted the importance of speed, international reach and commercial execution in the company's markets.
“The world will not wait for us. In our markets, speed, international reach and the ability to turn good ideas into real business are becoming increasingly important. In Stephan Sielaff, we have appointed a CEO who has successfully navigated precisely these kinds of challenges and developed companies in demanding international markets. Together, we want to take the Group forward - with entrepreneurial courage, commercial discipline and a clear focus on our customers.”
Sielaff's appointment marks the start of the next phase of the Group's development, with customer proximity, international cooperation and the application of technical expertise among the priorities outlined by the company's leadership.