Dr. Hariolf Kottmann

Hariolf Kottmann is currently a member of various boards of directors and supervisory bodies in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. 

After completing his studies and doctorate in chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Stuttgart, he began his career at Hoechst AG in Frankfurt in 1985. From 1996, he worked as Executive Vice President at Celanese Chemicals in the USA and Singapore and from April 2001 as a member of the Board of Management at SGL Carbon AG in Wiesbaden. 
From 2008 to 2018 he was CEO, then Chairman and Executive Chairman of Clariant AG/ Basel (until April 2021) . 

In 2014, as CEO at the time, he founded the Clariant Foundation, which focused on broadly defined support for children worldwide and cultural sponsorship, particularly within Switzerland. 

Hariolf Kottmann was born in Göppingen (Baden Württemberg) in 1955 and grew up in Wäschenbeuren, a small community in the Stauferland region. He has lived near Zurich with his wife since 2010. 

His interests are wide-ranging. European history and politics, modern art and music, with his tastes ranging from opera and classical music to jazz and rock music. He is a passionate skier, likes mountains and lakes and is considered by friends to be a football enthusiast at VfB Stuttgart.