Martin John will join the management team of KRAHN Chemie Group on May 1st, 2025, and take over as CEO on June 1st. The company is part of the internationally active Otto Krahn Group, a family-owned business headquartered in Hamburg.
“With Martin John, we have found an experienced and highly competent CEO to lead the KRAHN Chemie Group and drive its continued growth,” says Philip O. Krahn, CEO of the Otto Krahn Group.
Martin John brings over 30 years of international experience in the chemical industry. The 53-year-old business graduate (FH) has held leadership roles at Hoechst, Sued-Chemie, and Clariant, working across Europe, the USA, and China. Over the past 15 years, he has led global business units at Clariant in various industries, most recently overseeing the additives business for the coatings and adhesives sector. ”I am excited to lead one of Europe’s premier chemical distributors and to work with the experienced and dedicated team of KRAHN Chemie to expand our business further,” says Martin John.
Dr. Rolf Kuropka, who has successfully led KRAHN Chemie as CEO for over 13 years, will transition his operational responsibilities to Martin John as part of a planned leadership change at the end of May 2025. Following this, Dr. Rolf Kuropka will continue to support the group in an advisory capacity. “We sincerely thank Dr. Kuropka for his outstanding work and his significant contribution to our company’s success,” Philip O. Krahn emphasises.
With this leadership transition, KRAHN Chemie ensures seamless continuity while staying on course for international growth. “We will continue to expand our service and consulting offerings, strengthen our focus on sustainability, and leverage the synergies within our corporate group,” Philip O. Krahn explains.
About KRAHN Chemie
KRAHN Chemie GmbH is a chemical distribution company founded 1972 which continues the specialty chemical business of OTTO Krahn established in 1909. Its core competences are sales, marketing and distribution of specialty chemicals and heat transfer fluids.
KRAHN offers its more than 5,000 customers an extensive and high-quality product range, technical and sustainability services as well as in-house laboratory support, and works closely together with international chemical manufacturers. They benefit from its target-oriented product marketing — utilising deep knowledge of local markets.
KRAHN supplies products to the following processing industries: coatings, construction, adhesives and sealants, plastics, rubber, lubricants and fuels, industrial cleaning and home care, personal care, chemical intermediates as well as all industrial sectors in which heating and cooling circuits are used.
In 2023, KRAHN Chemie Group achieved a turnover of about EUR 300 million and currently employs 270 people. The headquarter is located in Hamburg, Germany. It has subsidiaries and local sales teams in the Benelux, France, Italy, Poland, Greece, Sweden, United Kingdom, Spain, Austria, Romania, the Czech Republic and Hungary. The company group is part of the family-owned and globally active Otto Krahn Group.
For more information visit www.krahn.eu or www.linkedin.com/company/krahn-chemie-group.
