LyondellBasell CEO Bob Patel to Retire by Year-end

LyondellBasell on Aug. 25 announced that CEO Bhavesh V. (Bob) Patel intends to retire from the Dutch-domiciled multinational chemical company with U.S. operations headquarters in Houston by year-end.

“After almost 12 years at the company, the time has come for me to move to the next chapter of my career, and my decision is made easier given the strength of the company and the highly experienced, capable leadership team that is in place,” Patel said in a release by the company.

Patel joined LyondellBasell in March 2010 and was appointed CEO in January 2015. Since that time, the company has grown substantially through a series of strategic global investments, including the acquisition of A. Schulman, the construction of world-scale manufacturing plants in the U.S. Gulf Coast, and the establishment of new or expanded joint ventures in the United States, China, Korea and Thailand.

“Under Bob’s leadership, LyondellBasell has successfully expanded our global portfolio, increased our earnings power, delivered strong cash flows and consistently raised our quarterly dividend,” commented Jacques Aigrain, board chair, in the release.

Under Patel’s leadership, LyondellBasell was also named to Fortune Magazine’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” list for four consecutive years beginning in 2018 and to Newsweek Magazine’s list of “Most Responsible Companies” for 2021.

“We are extremely proud of his commitment to driving sustainability at LyondellBasell,” Aigrain continued, “where we have set an ambitious goal to produce and market two million metric tons of recycled and renewable-based polymers by 2030. Bob’s leadership in this area is exemplified by the company’s actions as a founding member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, an organization which helps address plastic waste in the environment.”

Patel will continue to lead the company until that time and will ensure a smooth and orderly transition for his successor. Upon his departure, he will also resign from the company’s board of directors.

The LyondellBasell board of directors has established a sub-committee that will oversee the search for a new CEO and will consider both internal and external candidates, according to the company release.