Global Specialist Executive Search & Management Consulting

Chemical Search International Global Consulting Team

We are a boutique search firm but with a global footprint to reflect the international nature of our clients. Our innovative structure means we offer clients a global, cross-border search capability, yet retain the nimbleness and flexibility of a small business. Our core consulting team is leveraged by a growing board of advisors who both endorse our business and provide additional firepower for our searches.

Executive Search

If you are an experienced executive search consultant looking for a more sector-focused firm or midcareer industry executive interested in switching to executive search we’d be interested to talk. We offer an entrepreneurial, collegiate setting, 100% sector focus and a global outlook, plus high brand recognition, established infrastructure and a loyal client base. We can offer truly unlimited earnings from search assignments, plus the flexibility to work from home.

Advisory Board

We already have a strong and established board of Business Developers and Executive Advisors, some of whom are shown on our Team page. Business Developers work closely with us to help expand new geographic regions or parts of our value-chain. Executive Advisors work with us in a public or confidential capacity to help identify opportunities and find talent. In an industry as vast and fragmented as ours, we believe our model is a true differentiator and helps explain our success.

To learn more or arrange an exploratory call please contact us.

Global Team

Stephen Mothersole

Founder and CEO

London, UK

Stephen's career has spanned a wide part of the chemicals sector; from being a European chemicals equity research analyst for leading investment bank S.G. Warburg to corporate development, sales, marketing and business management roles working for Air Products & Chemicals. During this time he was based in the USA and Germany for 8 years.

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Stephen Mothersole

Founder and CEO

London, UK

Stephen's career has spanned a wide part of the chemicals sector; from being a European chemicals equity research analyst for leading investment bank S.G. Warburg to corporate development, sales, marketing and business management roles working for Air Products & Chemicals. During this time he was based in the USA and Germany for 8 years.

In 2000 he founded Chemical Search International (CSI) which has steadily grown to one of the most respected boutique executive search firms worldwide for the chemicals and related value-chain.

Stephen holds a BSc in Chemistry from Hull University, UK, an MSc in Bio-analytical chemistry from the University of Cincinnati, USA and an MBA studied in both Spain and Belgium.

In 2018, he also became a founding Partner of CCD Partners, a European-based corporate Advisory firm for the chemicals and related sectors.

On a personal note Stephen is proud of CSI's success and excited by the many opportunities that lie ahead to grow the business. If you would like to join us in some capacity or we can help in some way please get in touch.

Languages spoken: English, Business Spanish

Bruce G. Orr

Director | Americas

Greater NYC, USA

Bruce brings to CSI over 35 years of experience in the chemicals, polymers, advanced materials and environmental service sectors. He began his career at Union Carbide Corporation in New York City and rapidly progressed into senior executive roles at Carbide and successor companies, including OSi Specialties, Witc...

Bruce G. Orr

Director | Americas

Greater NYC, USA

Bruce brings to CSI over 35 years of experience in the chemicals, polymers, advanced materials and environmental service sectors. He began his career at Union Carbide Corporation in New York City and rapidly progressed into senior executive roles at Carbide and successor companies, including OSi Specialties, Witco Corporation and Crompton Corporation (now Lanxess).

Bruce has extensive international experience, having served clients in diverse markets on nearly every continent and lived and worked in Europe for several years. During his career, Bruce has held positions in both publicly traded corporations and privately held middle market companies as Vice President & General Manager, Senior Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer, Managing Director, Europe, Africa & the Middle East and as served as a Principal at a global chemicals consultancy, serving the clients throughout the chemicals & plastics value chain, from petrochemicals to specialties and bio-renewables.

A thought leader in market driven strategies, he has successfully led both large, complex global enterprises and smaller teams around the world.  Bruce joined the CSI team to expand our growing Executive Search capabilities in the Americas. 

Bruce earned his B.A. in biological sciences from the University of Denver and is a graduate of Dartmouth College’s Amos Tuck School of Business Executive MBA program. He currently resides in Connecticut, USA.

Languages spoken: English

John Jex

Senior Partner | Global Search Practice

North, UK

John has 30 years experience in the chemical industry. He started in R&D for National Starch and Chemical, and has spent the majority of his career in the oilfield chemicals sector. He held senior commercial and operational roles with Clariant, BASF and Sichem. He has managed business globally, with particular experience in the Middle East, Asia...

John Jex

Senior Partner | Global Search Practice

North, UK

John has 30 years experience in the chemical industry. He started in R&D for National Starch and Chemical, and has spent the majority of his career in the oilfield chemicals sector. He held senior commercial and operational roles with Clariant, BASF and Sichem. He has managed business globally, with particular experience in the Middle East, Asia Pacific and North Sea regions, and has lived and worked outside of the UK for a total of 20 years.

Since 2020 he has worked as an independent consultant, helping chemical manufacturers to navigate the oilfield chemicals market, develop strategy and grow their business. John joined the team at CSI in March 2021.

John holds a BSc in Applied Chemistry from Coventry University, UK and is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and the Chemical & Industrial Consultants Association (CICA).

 

 

Languages spoken: English

Shelley Woods Whiting

Partner | Global Search Practice

Atlanta, GA, USA

Shelley is a consultant, talent developer, and business strategist. She guides companies of all sizes and types to accelerate growth. Her clients are entrepreneurs, start-ups, private-owned, private equity and large public corporations. Shelley is especially valued by multinational organizations interested in innovating and developing commercial...

Shelley Woods Whiting

Partner | Global Search Practice

Atlanta, GA, USA

Shelley is a consultant, talent developer, and business strategist. She guides companies of all sizes and types to accelerate growth. Her clients are entrepreneurs, start-ups, private-owned, private equity and large public corporations. Shelley is especially valued by multinational organizations interested in innovating and developing commercial talent. She has grown $1B+ P&Ls in complex, regulated, and highly competitive industries with multiple levels of influencers in their value chains. Key industries in which Shelley has worked include chemicals, specialty materials, building products, CPG, packaging, pharma, agriculture, oil/gas, mining, aerospace, transportation, durable goods, and industrial manufacturing. Shelley is also an award-winning marketer with B2B and B2C industry leaders Avery Dennison, Georgia-Pacific, DuPont and FMC. She is an invited speaker and panelist who has served on several for-profit and not-for-profit boards. Shelley earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Tufts University in Medford, MA and MBA from The Ross School of Business at The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI. She resides in Atlanta, GA USA.

Languages spoken: English

John Marcantonio

Senior Partner | Consulting Practice

London, UK

John was Chief Chemicals Advisor at KBR Downstream - a company within the KBR organisation that is active in the innovation and business management arena until December 2020. He continues to advise industrial companies and financial institutions supporting various project development, technology evaluation, market strategy and LTC and LMC activi...

John Marcantonio

Senior Partner | Consulting Practice

London, UK

John was Chief Chemicals Advisor at KBR Downstream - a company within the KBR organisation that is active in the innovation and business management arena until December 2020. He continues to advise industrial companies and financial institutions supporting various project development, technology evaluation, market strategy and LTC and LMC activities. He draws upon his 33 years of experience in the chemicals and allied process industries to assist clients with recession beating strategies; cash - coordination - completions. The value of science and industrial innovation is brought to bear on human aspects of business assets and value enhancement.

Languages spoken: English, Italian

Anita Hoffmann

Consulting Partner | Europe

London, UK

Anita specialises in mission critical C-level and board executive search, board advisory services and senior executive coaching to companies and investors in the Oil & Gas, Power, Renewables, CleanTech, Water, Climate Change and Sustainability areas.

Anita has 30 years of experience at international senior executive level in industry and...

Anita Hoffmann

Consulting Partner | Europe

London, UK

Anita specialises in mission critical C-level and board executive search, board advisory services and senior executive coaching to companies and investors in the Oil & Gas, Power, Renewables, CleanTech, Water, Climate Change and Sustainability areas.

Anita has 30 years of experience at international senior executive level in industry and consulting services in the resources and energy sectors. Her experience includes working with and advising Corporates and PE/VC’s clients on regular and pre-deal searches, pre IPO boards and building executive teams for start-ups, succession planning, executive on-boarding and development.

Her early career was with Exxon, then Dow Corning before entering consulting with Accenture then Deloitte. Anita became a Partner and co-global practice leader for renewables for Heidrick & Struggles before establishing her own company Executiva.

Chemical Search has worked with Anita for a number of years and is delighted to now have a formal partnership agreement.

Anita lives and works in London and speaks French, German, English and native Swedish.

Languages spoken: English, Swedish

Seoul Min

Consulting Partner | Asia

Shanghai, China

Seoul has managed a boutique consulting firm focusing in growth strategies Asia since 2007, following 3 years in European/US Private Equity with Offices in New York, Miami, Brussels, Vienna and Shanghai and 7 years before this in procurement and supply chain for a leading German consultancy company. Today his focus is primarily in medium-sized ...

Seoul Min

Consulting Partner | Asia

Shanghai, China

Seoul has managed a boutique consulting firm focusing in growth strategies Asia since 2007, following 3 years in European/US Private Equity with Offices in New York, Miami, Brussels, Vienna and Shanghai and 7 years before this in procurement and supply chain for a leading German consultancy company. Today his focus is primarily in medium-sized manufacturing companies across Asia.

Languages spoken: Mandarin, Korean, German, English

Sally O'Donnell

Research Director

London, UK

Sally manages and coordinates our global research and candidate management systems working closely with our Clients, Candidates, Consulting and Advisory teams throughout each assignment. Her speed, efficiency and multi-tasking skills are second to none.

Sally received a BA in Sociology from the University of Greenwich, London and later ...

Sally O'Donnell

Research Director

London, UK

Sally manages and coordinates our global research and candidate management systems working closely with our Clients, Candidates, Consulting and Advisory teams throughout each assignment. Her speed, efficiency and multi-tasking skills are second to none.

Sally received a BA in Sociology from the University of Greenwich, London and later spent 2 years there as Administrator for the Access course for mature students. Following 8 years as Practice Manager in the healthcare sector she joined Chemical Search International.

 

Languages spoken: English

Annette Hilliard

Finance Director

London, UK

Annette manages CSI's finance and accounts function.

Before joining CSI, Annette had many years of experience in accounts management and administration including four years in-house accounts management for Fortnum & Mason, the famous London department store.

...

Annette Hilliard

Finance Director

London, UK

Annette manages CSI's finance and accounts function.

Before joining CSI, Annette had many years of experience in accounts management and administration including four years in-house accounts management for Fortnum & Mason, the famous London department store.

Languages spoken: English

Maxine Russo

Research Administrator

London

Maxine supports the vital research and administration function at Chemical Search. Before this she spent 15 years in administrative and management roles at a private London school. Maxine's early career was as PA at VP and European President level at UBS, Prudential Bache securities and KPMG. ...

Maxine Russo

Research Administrator

London

Maxine supports the vital research and administration function at Chemical Search. Before this she spent 15 years in administrative and management roles at a private London school. Maxine's early career was as PA at VP and European President level at UBS, Prudential Bache securities and KPMG.

Languages spoken: English, French

Antje Groenendijk

Marketing Manager

London

Antje is responsible for all marketing and event management activities of Chemical Search International and our associated networking business Noblenet.co. Antje joins from a decade working in the investment banking sector in Spain and London in executive PA and administrative roles as well as founding her own fashion related business....

Antje Groenendijk

Marketing Manager

London

Antje is responsible for all marketing and event management activities of Chemical Search International and our associated networking business Noblenet.co. Antje joins from a decade working in the investment banking sector in Spain and London in executive PA and administrative roles as well as founding her own fashion related business.

Languages spoken: Spanish

Krystyna Leyland

Partner | Psychometrics

London, UK

Krystyna is a highly qualified executive and career coach with over 20 years coaching experience. Her clients include company directors, managers and staff from a range of backgrounds, including pharmaceutical, health, finance and oil services. She has particular experience coaching early career professionals. Prior to becoming a coach, she was a S...

Krystyna Leyland

Partner | Psychometrics

London, UK

Krystyna is a highly qualified executive and career coach with over 20 years coaching experience. Her clients include company directors, managers and staff from a range of backgrounds, including pharmaceutical, health, finance and oil services. She has particular experience coaching early career professionals. Prior to becoming a coach, she was a Senior Manager in an incorporated Adult Education College.

  • With an extensive understanding of psychometric assessment tools, she is licensed to use two different career coaching programmes and to administer SHL psychometric tests which she performs for us on request.
  • Languages spoken: English, Polish

    Judith Moeckell

    Partner | HR Management

    London, UK

    Judith is an international HR Consultant. Her specialism is Resourcing end to end solutions, global Talent Management and Leadership Development, She has 20 years experience in a variety of global HR operational, project and consultancy roles with blue chip global organisations and SME’s both in the private and public sector.

    The first...

    Judith Moeckell

    Partner | HR Management

    London, UK

    Judith is an international HR Consultant. Her specialism is Resourcing end to end solutions, global Talent Management and Leadership Development, She has 20 years experience in a variety of global HR operational, project and consultancy roles with blue chip global organisations and SME’s both in the private and public sector.

    The first 17 year were spent various HR permanent roles  starting with a boutique HR consultancy and then moving to spend 10 years with Shell International. Roles included as head of Recruitment strategy, Global Head of talent for the Upstream Global Businesses, & head of HR for the global Wells function. Some of her deliverables included involvement in the creation & globalisation of selection & attraction strategies, tools, methodologies, OD and process design, talent management, succession planning, regional resourcing strategies and change projects.

    Since leaving to set up JM Consulting in 2007 key projects have included creating & implementing talent, L&D, recruitment & resourcing strategies governance models & selection methodologies, employee value propositions, interim global roles as head of Talent, L&D and Change working with  FTSE 100’s across a wide range of sectors to include financial services, utilities, media, energy, tax & customs as well as healthcare.

    As a qualified coach she also takes a hands on approach to the development of leadership & career coaching and mentoring.

    Languages spoken: English

    Roger Thomas

    Partner | Executive Coaching

    South UK

    After an early career in senior management with IBM and Scottish Power, Roger is a hugely experienced coach with over 20 years managing his own private coaching practice. He enjoys working with and developing high performing management teams. He provides executive coaching to individual managers and facilitation to management teams, particularly w...

    Roger Thomas

    Partner | Executive Coaching

    South UK

    After an early career in senior management with IBM and Scottish Power, Roger is a hugely experienced coach with over 20 years managing his own private coaching practice. He enjoys working with and developing high performing management teams. He provides executive coaching to individual managers and facilitation to management teams, particularly when they are facing changes in the business environment, or wish to “step back from the fray” to take a considered view of how best to proceed. He focuses on the effective execution of strategy - actually getting the right things done properly for clients to succeed. CSI has partnered with Roger to offer Executive Coaching and Team Coaching services to clients working across our value chains.

    Languages spoken: English

    Jacky Sherman

    Partner | Career Coaching

    South UK

    After an early career at C-level in Healthcare, Jacky is a hugely experienced coach with over 20 years managing her own private coaching practice and latterly helping others to develop their own specialist businesses. As someone who made the transition herself, she is on a mission to help specialists map out their next career move to build their fu...

    Jacky Sherman

    Partner | Career Coaching

    South UK

    After an early career at C-level in Healthcare, Jacky is a hugely experienced coach with over 20 years managing her own private coaching practice and latterly helping others to develop their own specialist businesses. As someone who made the transition herself, she is on a mission to help specialists map out their next career move to build their future in a way that supports their chosen lifestyle. Whether that be in employment or running their own successful consultancy all her clients benefit from the support she gives as they adapt to a new role and responsibilities. She is an accomplished speaker whose style is closer to game show host than university lecturer. She loves to work with the audience to pull out those "Aha moments" from their stories of successes and frustrations. That’s when the learning turns to action. CSI has partnered with Jacky to offer Career Coaching and Onboarding coaching services to clients working across our value chains.

    Languages spoken: English

    Tony Miles

    Business Development | Europe

    Lausanne, Switzerland

    Tony joins CS's expanding BD team to develop our executive search activities in the sulphur and sulphuric acid trading sphere and chemicals trading more generally. Based in Switzerland, Tony has more than 20 years experience in the trading of sulphur and its derivatives having worked 9 years with Interacid Trading where he was VP Trading for Su...

    Tony Miles

    Business Development | Europe

    Lausanne, Switzerland

    Tony joins CS's expanding BD team to develop our executive search activities in the sulphur and sulphuric acid trading sphere and chemicals trading more generally. Based in Switzerland, Tony has more than 20 years experience in the trading of sulphur and its derivatives having worked 9 years with Interacid Trading where he was VP Trading for Sulphur and amongst others with Quantum Fertilisers Ltd, the Hong Kong based trading subsidiary of Australia’s leading phosphate producer Incitec-Pivot. Since 2014 Tony has acted as an independent consultant for the procurement of sulphur and sulphuric acid. For 5 years, he was closely associated with Dubai based trading house BGN International, helping manage their almost 2 million tons/year sulphur trading business. In early 2021, Tony decided to take a step back from day-to-day trading activities and focus on his consulting activities and other interests. Tony is the Owner of LinkedIn Group Sulphur Professionals which currently boasts almost 1’000 members. Tony graduated with a Ph.D. in Organometallic Chemistry from the University of Bristol, UK in 1985. He also has a MBA from Warwick University, UK. Prior to trading, Tony worked in corporate research, process engineering, product development and technical sales in crude oil processing for BP and Akzo Nobel in the UK, France and The Netherlands.

    Languages spoken: English, French

    Liz Gershon

    Business Development | Americas

    Greater NYC, USA

    Liz Gershon has more than 35 years of experience in the Chemicals & Plastics Industry, with most of that spent as a Management Consultant, specializing in strategy development, market planning, new product development, and mergers & acquisitions. She also has acted as a Leadership Coach for Senior Executives and a Marketing Coach for var...

    Liz Gershon

    Business Development | Americas

    Greater NYC, USA

    Liz Gershon has more than 35 years of experience in the Chemicals & Plastics Industry, with most of that spent as a Management Consultant, specializing in strategy development, market planning, new product development, and mergers & acquisitions. She also has acted as a Leadership Coach for Senior Executives and a Marketing Coach for various business operating teams. 

    For 10 years, Liz was an Executive Vice President for Kureha Corporation, a $1.5B Japanese specialty chemicals and plastics company, where she led the startup of a new-to-the-world high barrier, biodegradable polymer business, identified and closed several M&A opportunities, and acted as an Officer in a global Joint Venture. 

    In 2015, Liz established Dreytek, Inc., the North American business unit of a global distributor of polymer additives and specialty polymers.  Liz’s early career was spent with Union Carbide’s Engineering Polymers Business (now Solvay’s Specialty Polymers) in sales, marketing and business management roles. 

    Liz received a B.A. in Chemistry from Mount Holyoke College, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, and an MBA degree in Finance from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

    Languages spoken: English

    Mauricio Davila, PhD

    Business Development, Americas

    Toronto, Canada

    Mauricio is a seasoned international business professional with unique depth and breadth of experience in the global energy, petrochemical, and energy-intensive industries. He has a diverse management consulting, investment banking, and corporate expertise with leading global corporations and extensive experience in capital project evaluation, M&A,...

    Mauricio Davila, PhD

    Business Development, Americas

    Toronto, Canada

    Mauricio is a seasoned international business professional with unique depth and breadth of experience in the global energy, petrochemical, and energy-intensive industries. He has a diverse management consulting, investment banking, and corporate expertise with leading global corporations and extensive experience in capital project evaluation, M&A, strategic planning, competitor analysis, market research, and regulatory policy analysis. As a Business Development Advisor to Chemical Search International, Mauricio will help us source and fill challenging roles in these sectors. Mauricio is based in Toronto and is fluent in five languages.

    Languages spoken: Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, English

    Rajeev Pandia

    Director Business Development, Asia

    Mumbai, India

    During a career spanning 40 years, Rajeev Pandia has been associated with strategic planning, project evaluation and management, technology transfer, international marketing, Government policies and general management, while focusing on Petrochemicals and specialty chemicals. During 2000-2002, he was the President of Indian Chemical Manufacturer...

    Rajeev Pandia

    Director Business Development, Asia

    Mumbai, India

    During a career spanning 40 years, Rajeev Pandia has been associated with strategic planning, project evaluation and management, technology transfer, international marketing, Government policies and general management, while focusing on Petrochemicals and specialty chemicals. During 2000-2002, he was the President of Indian Chemical Manufacturers Association (now Indian Chemical Council). As a Board member and Consultant, he now advises several Indian and international companies in the areas of Strategy, Project execution and Operational Excellence.

    Rajeev headed Herdillia Chemicals Limited (later Schenectady Herdillia Limited and SI Group ? India Limited) from 1992 and was its Vice Chairman and Managing Director until December 2008. He was thereafter Group Adviser and Director ? Global Markets of SI Group, USA.

    He has been invited to make presentations on a wide range of subjects at about 120 international conferences in the USA, Europe and Asia and has written extensively for many reputed journals and financial newspapers. From August 2014 Rajeev will be working with Chemical Search International to help develop our business interests across Asia.

    Rajeev is a graduate in Chemical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai, India and holds the Master?s degree in the same field from Stanford University, California.

    Languages spoken: English, Hindi

    Ian Anderson

    Special Advisor, China

    Shanghai, China

    Ian is a graduate of Cambridge University with 45 years commercial and general management experience in the international chemical industry. He has lived and worked in Shanghai since 2014, of which eight years as China MD of Synthomer plc, UK based speciality chemical manufacturer and for the most recent 12 months as inte...

    Ian Anderson

    Special Advisor, China

    Shanghai, China

    Ian is a graduate of Cambridge University with 45 years commercial and general management experience in the international chemical industry. He has lived and worked in Shanghai since 2014, of which eight years as China MD of Synthomer plc, UK based speciality chemical manufacturer and for the most recent 12 months as interim China MD of IMCD, NL based distributor of speciality chemicals and ingredients. Prior to moving to China Ian was VP EMEA/N America of Synthomer, based in Germany, and also director of Synthomer’s JVs in Egypt, Finland and Saudi Arabia. He retired from full-time corporate employment to pursue a “third age” career in China in consultancy and coaching. Ian’s professional interests and recent experience have been focused on M&A/integration, business strategy, talent development and winning in China for SME MNCs. Ian shall be helping Chemical Search strengthen our Asian footprint, with special emphasis on helping companies and chemical sector executives in China.

    Languages spoken: Mandarin

    Denise Lee

    Business Development | Asia

    Hong Kong

    Denise Lee has over 20 years’ sales and marketing experiences in specialty chemical & plastics industries in Asia Pacific Region. She has extensive exposure to the diverse countries in Asia Pacific, including Asean countries, Greater China, Australia, New Zealand, North Asia, and India and sub-continentals with her sales leading role in global...

    Denise Lee

    Business Development | Asia

    Hong Kong

    Denise Lee has over 20 years’ sales and marketing experiences in specialty chemical & plastics industries in Asia Pacific Region. She has extensive exposure to the diverse countries in Asia Pacific, including Asean countries, Greater China, Australia, New Zealand, North Asia, and India and sub-continentals with her sales leading role in global chemical companies.

    Denise has knowledge and experiences in dealing with different cultures and business philosophies across Asia Pacific Region. She studied in Taiwan for her Bachelor degree and obtains EMBA degree from The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

    Denise is now located in Hong Kong, which is a convenient hub to develop business in North Asia and Greater China market.

    Languages spoken: English, Cantonese, Mandarin