Steve Holland’s plans for Brenntag

Recently promoted to the new position of chief operating officer at Brenntag, Steve Holland reveals what drives both him and distribution

STEVE HOLLAND loves his job. Appointed chief operating officer of German chemical distributor Brenntag on October 1 this year, Holland is enthusiastic about the future, his plans for the company and why distribution still excites him.

Now 52, Holland has clocked up 30 years in the business. He began his career in polymers research and development. But the lure of a lab bench soon faded and he moved to roles in sales and marketing in manufacturing and distribution, eventually moving up to general management.

His first key appointment was as managing director of the UK’s Hays Chemicals. In 2001, he led a management buyout of Hays, forming. In 2006, Albion’s distribution business was sold to Brenntag.

Holland has risen rapidly through the Brenntag ranks. After just one year, Holland was appointed CEO Brenntag Europe and joined the group’s management board.

Two years later, Holland was chosen as chief operating officer with global responsibility for Brenntag’s daily business with the CEOs of North America, Latin America, Europe and Southeast Asia reporting directly to him.

“[Customers] expect us to deal with the complexity of wide product portfolios” Steve Holland, chief operating officer, Brenntag

EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES
So, why does chemical distribution still excite Holland? Because, he says, it is one of a few industries with a dynamic sales and marketing environment, complex regulation and sophisticated logistics serving thousands of industrial and specialty chemical consumers in many industries and regions.

A key driver for Holland is the high service demands from customers. “They expect us to deal with the complexity of wide product portfolios, multiple package combinations, which, when you add to it local, regional, national and even global characteristics, means that there is always an opportunity to grow your business and service offering, whatever size of distributor you are,” he says.

Holland believes the distribution industry model provides sustainable above-average growth with relatively little downside and lots of potential. He says that future trends will be driven by customers pursuing a simplification of their processes, including working with distributors who can deliver a seamless service offering and who are simply easy to do business with.

In addition, there is a similar driver for simplification coming from Brenntag’s suppliers, to whom the company is looking to provide channel management services. This, says Holland, will give suppliers access to the less-than-full-truckload customer who buys a whole range of products.

A further trend is the desire of some producers to work with fewer, more capable distributors who can deliver increasing value to their supply chain.

Holland says: “In terms of growth, we expect to see more opportunities for consolidation in the industry which remains highly fragmented on a local, national and multinational basis.”

Geographically, Brenntag is well positioned to grow further as it has invested in markets that will see better-than-average growth in the years ahead, such as Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe and Asia Pacific.

“More opportunities to grow in India, China and the Middle East provide further upside to what is already a target-rich environment,” says Holland, who is steadfastly optimistic.

“If you add all this to our continued growth in focus industry segments in major European and North American markets, it is perhaps not surprising that I remain upbeat in terms of future growth of the chemical distribution business,” he adds.

Holland’s hope in the future is to see Brenntag recognized as a truly global brand as the company expands in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Will Holland still be working in chemical distribution in 10 years? “I still can’t help but get excited and a huge kick out of what I do every day, so I don’t think you would have to look far to find me,” he says.

Save 30% on a subscription to ICIS Chemical Business