The new CEO will focus on customer proximity, international collaboration and application-driven innovation in specialty chemicals for man-made fibres.
Schill+Seilacher Group has appointed Stephan Sielaff as its Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 October 2026. A chemical engineer with around 30 years of experience in specialty chemicals and related industries, Sielaff will lead the Group’s next phase of development, drawing on his experience at companies including Unilever, Lenzing AG and SSI SCHÄFER Plastics.
The internationally active specialty chemicals Group serves manufacturers and processors of man-made fibres with process auxiliaries for staple fibres and continuous filaments, as well as solutions for the functionalisation of nonwovens.
Specialty Chemicals for Man-Made Fibre Applications
Schill+Seilacher develops spinning finishes designed to support reliable and efficient fibre processing while providing properties tailored to specific end uses. These include a soft handle, controlled water absorption and water repellency.
The Group’s solutions serve a wide range of applications, from apparel and hygiene products to technical uses in mobility, construction and infrastructure.
Sielaff sees the combination of established expertise and continued adaptation as a key strength of specialty chemicals businesses.
“Tradition becomes a competitive advantage in specialty chemicals when experience is continuously translated into new solutions. Schill+Seilacher has extensive application expertise across the production and further processing of man-made fibers. The key is to turn that knowledge into tailored solutions together with our customers,” Sielaff said.
Strengthening Customer and Market Focus
Customer proximity will be a key priority under Sielaff’s leadership. He plans to sharpen the organisation’s focus on markets, customers and partners while strengthening international collaboration across the Group.
“We already have an international footprint. Now we want to make better use of the strength of our Group — thinking globally, acting together and staying closer to our customers,” Sielaff said.
The approach is intended to build on the Group’s international presence and application expertise while strengthening its response to changing customer requirements across global markets.
Stephan Sielaff’s Career in Specialty Chemicals
Sielaff began his career at Unilever, where he held roles in operations, innovation and product development. He later became Innovation and Engineering Director for Home and Personal Care Europe.
He subsequently held positions at Symrise before becoming Chief Operating Officer of Swiss specialty chemicals company Archroma. He went on to serve as CEO of Austria-based Lenzing AG and most recently led SSI SCHÄFER Plastics as CEO.
Schill+Seilacher Outlines Priorities for the Next Phase
Dr Peter Dürolf, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Schill+Seilacher Group, highlighted the growing importance of speed, international reach and commercial execution in the Group’s markets.
“The world will not wait for us. In our markets, speed, international reach and the ability to turn good ideas into real business are becoming increasingly important. In Stephan Sielaff, we have appointed a CEO who has successfully navigated precisely these kinds of challenges and developed companies in demanding international markets