Eric Alström appointed group president and CEO of Hempel

Eric Alström will become group president and CEO of Danish coatings manufacturer Hempel on 1 August 2026. He succeeds Michael Hansen, who left the company in June 2026. The appointment follows an interim leadership period led by Peter la Cour Gormsen, executive vice president and chief financial officer, and Emilie Barriau, executive vice president and chief technology officer.

Alström joins Hempel after more than 30 years in international executive leadership roles across Europe, the US, Japan and China, spanning the industrial technology, automotive and manufacturing sectors. He holds a master’s degree in management from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Most recently, Alström was president of Danfoss Power Solutions, where he was responsible for the company’s largest business segment worldwide. During his tenure, the business expanded through organic growth and acquisitions, with a continued focus on customers and products. Danfoss Power Solutions is a €5bn hydraulics and electrification business.

He also brings previous experience from Hempel, having served as vice chair of the board of directors from 2017 to 2024.

Commenting on the appointment, Richard Sand, chair of the board of directors, says: “On behalf of the board, I am very pleased to welcome Eric Alström as new group president and CEO of Hempel. Eric is an experienced international business leader with a strong track record of driving growth, transformation and innovation in global industrial businesses. He also knows Hempel well through his previous service on our board, and we are very confident that he is the right person to lead Hempel through its extremely exciting next phase with full focus on strong growth and value creation.”

Alström adds: “I am honoured to join Hempel as group president and CEO. Hempel is a distinctive and successful global leader with a strong heritage, trusted and long-standing customer relationships and clear ambitions for the future. Having followed the company closely, I know it stands on a strong foundation, and I look forward to working with the board of directors and Hempel colleagues across the world to build on that strength, driving customer value through innovation, thus ensuring profitable growth at an even higher pace than in the past.

“Hempel has great people, and combined with our innovative products, we have the right ingredients to outpace the competition.”

The board of directors also thanked Peter la Cour Gormsen and Emilie Barriau for leading the company during the interim period while the CEO succession process was completed.