Section: News

A summary of recent company appointments.

Three leading regional fertilizer producers have come together to create the Southeast Asia Fertilizer Association (SEAFA). The new association formally announced its formation at an industry conference in Bali on 1 April 2026. The founding members are Pupuk Indonesia (Persero) of Indonesia, Petronas Chemicals Group Berhad of Malaysia, and Brunei Fertilizer Industries (BFI) of Brunei Darussalam. Under the founding agreement, Brunei Darussalam will host the association’s secretariat. Pupuk Indonesia has been appointed to provide SEAFA’s first chairman, President Director of Pupuk Indonesia Rahmad Pribadi, with Petronas Chemicals Group providing a co-chair. The chairmanship will rotate annually between the association’s members.

Three leading regional fertilizer producers have come together to create the Southeast Asia Fertilizer Association (SEAFA). The new association formally announced its formation at an industry conference in Bali on 1 April 2026. The founding members are Pupuk Indonesia (Persero) of Indonesia, Petronas Chemicals Group Berhad of Malaysia, and Brunei Fertilizer Industries (BFI) of Brunei Darussalam. Under the founding agreement, Brunei Darussalam will host the association’s secretariat. Pupuk Indonesia has been appointed to provide SEAFA’s first chairman, President Director of Pupuk Indonesia Rahmad Pribadi, with Petronas Chemicals Group providing a co-chair. The chairmanship will rotate annually between the association’s members.

Roeland Baan has informed the Board of Directors of Topsoe A/S of his decision to step down as President and CEO of Topsoe effective 31 May, 2026. The Board has appointed Elena Scaltritti, currently the company’s Chief Commercial Officer, as the new President and CEO, from 1 June, 2026.

A summary of recent company appointments.

For the first time in twelve years, we are taking MEScon beyond the Middle East with the launch of MEScon Connect: Central Asia, with the goal of expanding the community.

Grupa Azoty has dismissed its CEO Andrzej Skolmowski . He had been in the job less than one year, having originally been appointed in June 2025. Skolmowski was removed from his role as president of the company’s management board on 12 February, along with vice presidents Paweł Bielski and Andrzej Dawidowski. Grupa Azoty’s vice-chair, Aleksandra MachowiczJaworska , will now act as temporary president of the management board for up to three months until a replacement CEO is found.

BP plc appointed Meg O’Neill as its next chief executive office, effective 1 April 2026. Murray Auchincloss stepped down from his position as CEO and director of the Board, as of Thursday, 18 December. Carol Howle, current executive vice president, supply, trading & shipping of bp, will serve as interim CEO until O’Neill joins as CEO. Auchinloss will serve in an advisory role until December 2026 to ensure a smooth transition.

BASF has announced a new management board for the spin-off of its new Agricultural Solutions division as a separate company ahead of its listing and initial public offering (IPO) on the Frankfurt stock exchange. BASF says this will “establish the standalone business as an independent, pure-play agricultural company with global reach, robust growth prospects and strong cash flow generation.” BASF will remain the majority shareholder and will continue to benefit from the company’s growth and success, while implementing market customary corporate governance.

Barents Blue AS has announced Proton Ventures as a new partner in the Barents Clean Ammonia Project (project formerly known as the Barents Blue project). Barents Blue says that the Dutch engineering and project development company, a pioneer in the clean ammonia industry, “will bring significant resources and industry expertise to the project and the value chain for clean ammonia, important for the realisation of Europe’s largest clean ammonia production plant located in Finnmark, Northern Norway”.