Board of Directors

Education

MSc Chemical Engineer, University of Ghent, Belgium

Career

2017 - 2022: CEO, AkzoNobel, Amsterdam, Netherlands

2016-2017: Head Specialty Chemicals and Executive Committee Member, AkzoNobel, Amsterdam, Netherlands

2015-2016: President Fluoroproducts, Chemours; President Chemours EMEA, Geneva, Switzerland, and Wilmington, USA

1989-2016: various functions within DuPont:
Vice President DuPont Performance Coatings EMEA, Cologne, Germany
Global Business & Marketing Director Fluorochemicals, DuPont, Wilmington, USA

Mandates in listed companies:

Member of the Board: Cabot Corporation, Boston, USA (Member of the Audit Committee)

Mandates in non-listed companies and organizations:

Managing Director: Aliaxis Holdings S.A., Brussels, Belgium

Key Skills and Experience:

Having held various management positions in the chemical sector for more than 30 years, Thierry Vanlancker brings with him extensive global and industrial experience. He possesses in-depth knowledge of strategy, M&A, product development, sales, and marketing with specific know-how in chemicals markets and distribution. He held the position as CEO of AkzoNobel, a large international paints and coatings company active in more than 150 countries, recognized for its leading ESG performance in all relevant benchmarks. He contributes with strong expertise about the management of large international companies, management of differentiated channels to market as well as in-depth experience of sustainability strategy implementation. 

Education

Certified Public Accountant (CPA), School for Swiss Certified Accountants, Switzerland 

Career

June 2023-December 2023: Interim CFO, Master Builders Solutions, Germany

2021-2022: CFO, RWDC Industries, USA

2016-2019: Executive Vice President and CFO, LyondellBasell Industries, USA and the Netherlands

1996-2015: Various functions within Holcim:
Group CFO and Member of Executive Committee, LafargeHolcim
CFO and Senior Vice President, Holcim Inc., USA
CFO and Senior Vice President, Holcim Apasco, Mexico
Head Corporate Controlling, Holcim Group Support Ltd., Switzerland 

1988-1996: Audit Senior Manager, PwC, Switzerland and Hongkong

1983-1987: Tax Specialist, Cantonal tax authorities, Switzerland

Mandates in listed companies and organizations:

Member of the Board: Solvay SA, Brussels, Belgium (Chair of the Audit Committee); dormakaba Holding AG, Rümlang, Switzerland (Chair of the Audit Committee and Vice Chair of the Board)

Key Skills and Experience:

Thomas Aebischer brings more than 30 years of international experience in the chemical and construction industries. His career has taken him to the USA, Mexico, and Asia where he has been active in industries with market structures and technologies relevant for Sika. With his profound knowledge in the fields of strategy, business development, and M&A he makes a valuable contribution to the continued strategic development of Sika. Having spent many years as CFO of several multinational companies, he possesses proven financial and risk management skills which makes him highly suitable to chair the Audit Committee. 

Education

MSc Chemical Engineer, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich; M.A. Economics, University of St. Gallen (HSG), Switzerland

Career

2007-2018: CFO Barry Callebaut Group, Zurich, Switzerland

1996-2006: Director of Niantic Group (Family Holding)

1991-1995: Principal of Adinvest AG, Zurich, Switzerland

1989-1991: Head Corporate Finance, Marc Rich & Co Holding AG, Zug, Switzerland

1985-1989: Financial Analyst and Manager, EniChem International AG, Zurich, Switzerland, and Milan, Italy

Mandates in listed companies:

Member of the Board: Givaudan AG, Vernier, Switzerland (Chair of the Audit Committee and Member of the Compensation Committee); Medacta International SA, Castel San Pietro, Switzerland (Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee); KWS Saat SE & Co. KGaA, Einbeck, Germany (Chair of the Audit Committee)

Mandates in non-listed companies and organizations:

Member of the Board: Swiss Federal Audit Oversight Authority (RAB), Bern, Switzerland; Hemro AG, Zurich, Switzerland; Louis Dreyfus Company International Holding BV, Amsterdam, Netherlands (Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee)

Key Skills and Experience:

Viktor Balli brings a wealth of financial and management experience, including his more than 10-year tenure as CFO for the Barry Callebaut Group, a global manufacturer of chocolate and cocoa products with sales activities in more than 140 countries. In this period, he was co-steering the development of an industry leading CSR strategy. With his extensive know-how in the areas of reporting, auditing, and risk management, he possesses competencies that are becoming increasingly relevant for corporates’ non-financial disclosure and performance. In addition to his managerial experience in globally active companies, holding master’s degrees both in chemical engineering (ETH) and in economics (HSG), he brings with him extensive knowledge in two highly relevant areas for Sika’s strategic development.

Education

MSc Materials Engineering, University of Gent, Belgium; MSc Polymers & Composites Engineering, University of Leuven, Belgium; Executive Business Education Insead, Paris, France and IMD, Lausanne, Switzerland

Career

2019-2023: Executive Vice President Polyolefins & Chief Technology Officer,  Borealis Group, Vienna, Austria
2014–2018: Vice President and General Manager Rubber Additives & Chief Commercial Officer, Eastman Chemical, Zug, Switzerland
1996–2014: various functions within Dow Chemical Group (incl. Rohm and Haas and Dow Corning): general / business (P&L) leadership, commercial, marketing & strategy leadership, M&A as well as research, product & application development across a broad range of industries spanning transportation, healthcare, food & nutrition, electronics, building & construction, oil & gas and water treatment, in Belgium, France, Switzerland, China, and the United States
1992–1996: Research, Product & Application development, Tyco, Kessel-Lo, Belgium and Menlo Park, USA

Mandates in listed companies:

Member of the Board: Amcor, Zurich, Switzerland (Chair of the Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee, Member of the Compensation Committee); Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Member of the Investment Committee, Member of the Sustainability, Risk, and EHSS Committee); Tronox, Stamford, USA (Member of the Corporate Governance and Sustainability Committee); Quaker Houghton, Conshohocken, USA (Member of the Compensation and HR Committee and Member of the Sustainability Committee)

Key Skills and Experience:

Lucrèce Foufopoulos brings with her 25 years of experience in the chemicals and materials industry, serving global multinationals such as Tyco, the Dow Chemical Group, Eastman Chemical and the Borealis Group, across a broad range of downstream industries and markets. She possesses in-depth knowledge of global business leadership with P&L responsibility, strategic planning, M&A, marketing and sales excellence, as well as technology and innovation. She has a particular appetite for turning around business portfolios for sustainable growth, and is passionate about people and organization, science and innovation for the purpose of building a more sustainable environment. With her strong engagement, extensive know-how, and highly relevant insights and competencies, she is a key contributor to Sika’s continued strategic development in the areas of innovation and sustainability.

Education

LL.B and B.C.L, McGill University, Canada

Career

Since 2010: Senior Investment Manager, Cascade Asset Management Company, Kirkland, WA, USA

2007-2009: Vice President, Investment Banking, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, New York, NY, USA

2003-2007: Associate, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, New York, NY, USA

Mandates in listed companies: 

Member of the Board: Canadian National Railway Company, Montreal, Québec, Canada (Member of the Governance and Sustainability Committee, Member of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee)

Key Skills and Experience:

Justin Howell is a senior investment professional and experienced corporate director. He brings with him in-depth knowledge of international financial and capital markets, private and public equity, shareholder activism, corporate governance, and law. With his extensive international experience in corporate finance and M&A and with his wide network across industries, he significantly contributes to Sika’s continuous strategic development. With over 10 years of experience working for a large asset owner with a strong focus on sustainable, long-term investment, he possesses a broad expertise in the areas of sustainability, modern governance principles and strategy-aligned compensation models. Further this experience and know how makes him well-suited to chair the Nomination and Compensation Committee. 

Education

BA, Economics and Econometrics, University of Essex, Great Britain

Career

1994-2024: Various functions within SGS:
CEO and Operations Council Member, Switzerland
Executive Vice President of Industrial Services, Switzerland
Executive Vice President of Consumer Testing Services, Switzerland
Managing Director of US Consumer Testing Services, USA
Operations Manager, Consumer Testing Services, China
Consumer Product Division Manager, SGS-CSTC Standards Technical Services, China
Management Trainee, Switzerland

1987-1989: Quality Assurance Engineer, Sodeco S.A., Geneva, Switzerland

Mandates in listed companies:

Member of the Board: Logitech International, Lausanne, Switzerland (Chair of the Compensation Committee, Chair of the Nominating & Governance Committee)

Key Skills and Experience:

As the former CEO of SGS, a Swiss-listed, global leader in testing, inspection, and certification services, Kwok Wang (Frankie) Ng brings extensive experience in managing a large, global organization with operations in 115 countries and close to 100,000 employees. During his 30-year tenure with SGS, he has held various senior management positions in China, Switzerland, and the United States, gaining experience in both consumer and industrial goods sectors. With his background as a leader of a global company with a decentralized profile similar to Sika's, coupled with profound knowledge of Asia and a broad geographical experience, Frankie Ng makes a valuable contribution to the development of Sika’s growth strategy, while at the same time safeguarding the culture of empowerment.

Education

BSc Human Resource Development and Labor Relations, University of Stockholm, Sweden

Career

2019–2024: Chief HR Officer, Adecco Group, Zurich, Switzerland

2015–2018: Chief HR Officer, Signify, former Phillips Lightning, Amsterdam/Eindhoven, Netherlands

2008–2015: Senior Vice President Group Function Human Resources, Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA, Stockholm, Sweden

1991–2008:  various functions within Ericsson:
Vice President HR & Organization, Business Unit Global Services, Sweden
Director HR & Organization, Market Unit Nordic & Baltics, Sweden
Regional HR Manager, Market Unit Nordic & Baltics, Sweden
Senior HR Manager, Swedish Business Unit, Market Operations Western Europe and North America & Customer Service, Sweden
Senior HR Consultant, USA

Key Skills and Experience:

Gordana Landén brings broad international leadership experience from a number of global enterprises with a focus on human resources as well as people and leadership development. She possesses in-depth knowledge in aligning organizations and compensation systems with the business strategy as well as in creating inspiring work environments that allow people to grow and unlock their potential. Throughout her career she has been a driving force of equity, diversity, and inclusion agendas and has gained a wide experience in the deployment of big data analytics to support strategic human capital planning and development. Moreover, she has been actively involved in several M&A processes. Gordana Landén’s comprehensive skills in human capital management are highly relevant since it is key to safeguard and preserve Sika’s unique corporate culture as the company continues to grow.

Education

MBA, Graduate School of Business Administration, University of Washington/Zurich

Career

2017-2021: Chief Executive Officer, 2007-2021: Member of Group Management, Sika AG, Baar, Switzerland

2013-2017: Regional Manager EMEA Sika AG, Baar, Switzerland

2007-2012: Regional Manager North America; General Manager Sika USA

1988-2006: Various management functions within Sika in Germany and Switzerland

1982-1988: International Key Account Sales Manager Switzerland, EMS Chemie AG, Domat/Ems, Switzerland

1980-1982: Project Manager Air Condition Plants, Luwa AG, Hong Kong, China

1976-1980: Production Manager, Hemair AG, Richterswil, Switzerland

Mandates in non-listed companies and organizations:

Chair of the Board: Swisspearl Group AG, Niederurnen, Switzerland

Key Skills and Experience:

With his extensive knowledge of the markets Sika operates in, as well as of its products, technologies, and its corporate culture, Paul Schuler contributes with highly relevant expertise to the Board. He has played a key role in developing and executing Sika's successful growth strategy and has a profound understanding of Sika’s values and global, empowered organization. After having held various management positions in the industry for more than 40 years, Paul brings with him a wealth of experience in international leadership, M&A, strategic management, and talent development.