ADNOC, OMV name leadership team for global Borouge chemicals giant

New leadership team set to steer global chemicals group after major merger

Last updated:
Nivetha Dayanand, Assistant Business Editor
The new entity formed out of the ADNOC and OMV alliance will be the fourth largest polyolefin producer in the world - and overtaking Sabic.
The new entity formed out of the ADNOC and OMV alliance will be the fourth largest polyolefin producer in the world - and overtaking Sabic.
Bloomberg

Dubai: ADNOC and OMV have confirmed the executive leadership team for Borouge Group International AG, marking a key step in building a global chemicals company through the combination of Borouge, Borealis and the planned acquisition of NOVA Chemicals.

The appointments come ahead of the completion of the transaction, which is expected to close by the end of March, setting the stage for a new entity with operations across multiple regions and markets.

Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber has been named Chairman of the Supervisory Board, reinforcing ADNOC’s role in shaping the direction of the combined business.

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Leadership drawn from global operators

The executive team brings together senior figures from across the chemicals and industrial sectors, with experience spanning operations, commercial strategy and large-scale project execution.

Roger Kearns, currently President and CEO of NOVA Chemicals, will take on the role of Chief Executive Officer. His experience includes leading major expansion projects and managing complex international operations.

“Borouge Group International is designed for resilience — combining scale, innovation, operational strength and global reach to deliver consistent performance across cycles and sustainable value over the long term,” Kearns said.

He added that the focus from the outset will be on maintaining continuity for customers and delivering disciplined execution.

Dr Stefan Doboczky, CEO of Borealis, has been appointed Chief Commercial Officer, bringing experience in navigating market volatility and strengthening competitiveness across global operations.

Dr Hasan Karam, currently Chief Operating Officer of Borouge Plc, will take on the same role in the new entity, continuing his focus on operational performance and efficiency.

Building a global chemicals platform

The leadership announcement reflects progress toward creating one of the largest integrated polyolefins platforms globally, combining production capabilities and market reach across three continents.

The new structure is expected to bring together manufacturing assets, commercial networks and technology platforms, allowing the company to serve a wider customer base and manage cycles more effectively.

“Borouge Group International is set to become a leading global industry powerhouse that will drive the next wave of industrial growth and deliver long-term returns for our shareholders,” Dr Sultan Al Jaber said.

He pointed to the experience within the leadership team as a key factor in supporting the company’s long-term strategy.

Transition phase continues

The company will appoint a permanent Chief Financial Officer by May, with Daniel Turnheim serving as interim CFO during the transition period.

Borouge Plc will continue to operate as a listed entity on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange during the transition, with its current leadership team remaining in place until the integration is completed.

That approach is aimed at maintaining operational stability while the broader structure is finalised.

Nivetha Dayanand
Nivetha DayanandAssistant Business Editor
Nivetha Dayanand is Assistant Business Editor at Gulf News, covering aviation, financial markets and commodities. A business and financial journalist with a strong interest in multimedia storytelling, she regularly takes complex financial and economic subjects beyond the written word, producing explainer videos that make them easier for a wider audience to understand. Nivetha has interviewed senior policymakers, business leaders and global financial figures both on and off camera. Her past guests include UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Khaled bin Alwaleed Al Saud, a member of the House of Saud and the founder and CEO of KBW Ventures, Jihad Azour, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund and Indian ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and N. Chandrababu Naidu. She has also hosted and moderated panels, conferences and awards shows, bringing her newsroom experience to live conversations on business, finance and the economy. An Erasmus Mundus journalism alum, Nivetha is drawn to stories that affect people directly and to reporting that gives a platform to voices that might otherwise go unheard. She was among the first journalists to speak to Petrofac employees in the UAE about unpaid salaries, broke the news of the planned demolition of Dubai’s well-known “Toyota Building”, and helped set the record straight on widely circulated claims that a giant replica of the Moon was coming to Dubai. More recently, her exclusive interview with EDGE Group CEO Hamad Al Marar revealed how the UAE-based defence group deployed its systems along the country’s shore border and established a geofence around the UAE within 48 hours of the February 28 escalation. Prior to joining Gulf News, Nivetha worked at ITP Media, where she helped launch Finance Middle East, a new publication covering the region’s financial sector. Her role spanned reporting and editing, video production, interviews and events. Across print, digital, and video, she focuses on finding the people behind business stories and explaining why those stories matter to the audience reading or watching them.

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