The CEO Rohr becomes executive president, Ryerkerk called to replace him

24 April 2019

The global chemical and specialty materials company, Celanese, announced that Mark Rohr, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), will assume the position of Executive Chairman of Celanese’s Board of Directors. After an extensive search, the Board has selected Lori Ryerkerk to succeed Rohr as CEO. The appointments are effective May 1, 2019, and at that time Ryerkerk will also join Celanese’s Board.

In Rohr’s Executive Chairman role, he will remain focused on guiding the strategic options to unlock value for Celanese shareholders and overseeing the achievement of the company’s 2020 growth strategy, while working closely with Ryerkerk to ensure a seamless CEO transition.

Ryerkerk is an accomplished global executive, bringing to Celanese an impressive track record of creating value at large international corporations. Throughout her 35-year career, she has held a variety of senior leadership roles at petrochemicals and refining businesses in the United States, Europe and Asia. Ryerkerk most recently served as Executive Vice President of Global Manufacturing of Royal Dutch Shell where she was responsible for all chemical and refining assets globally and led an organization of 30,000 employees and contractors. Before joining Shell in 2010, Ryerkerk worked for ExxonMobil for 24 years where she held positions of increasing responsibility in management, strategy and operations, and at Hess Corporation. Ryerkerk earned a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from Iowa State University.