Hempel appoints Malgorzata Kolton as new Executive Vice President & Head of Marine

Key messages:

• Gosha Kolton has been appointed Executive Vice President & Head of Marine at Hempel, effective 1 January 2026, and becomes part of the Executive Group Management.
• Gosha joins from her role as EU Vice President at Henkel Adhesive Technologies, where she successfully led one of the company’s largest regional business units.
• Gosha brings extensive international leadership experience, with a proven track record of driving growth, innovation and transformation.
• Gosha succeeds Alexander Enström, who has chosen to step down from the Executive Vice President role, but stays with Hempel as Head of New Build in Marine.

 

Copenhagen, 24 September 2025: Hempel A/S is happy to announce the appointment of Gosha Kolton as Executive Vice President & Head of Marine, effective 1 January 2026.

Commenting on the appointment, Michael Hansen, Group President & CEO at Hempel says: "I am delighted to welcome Gosha to Hempel. Her international perspective, leadership experience and passion for innovation will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our position in the marine coatings industry. Her commitment to building strong teams and customer-focused strategies will also help us deliver value for our stakeholders."

Gosha brings extensive international experience in strategic and operational leadership across both developed and emerging markets. Her experience in leading complex transformations and delivering customer value aligns perfectly with Hempel’s strategic priorities and ambitions for the Marine segment

"I am excited to join Hempel and the Marine team, and I look forward to working together to deliver outstanding value for Hempel’s customers and drive sustainable growth,” says Gosha Kolton.

A Polish national, Gosha joins Hempel from her role as EU Vice President of Packaging Adhesives, Coatings and Sealants at Henkel. In that position, she successfully steered one of the company’s largest regional businesses through volatile market conditions and transformations over the last five years, consistently delivering strong results across Europe.

Gosha takes over the role from Alexander Enström who has chosen to step down, following careful consideration and a desire to focus on more specialised responsibilities. He will assume the new role of Head of New Build in Marine from 1 January 2026.

“The Executive Group Management, Board and I are deeply grateful for Alexander’s leadership and contributions as Executive Vice President & Head of Marine. We wish him every success in his new role as Head of New Build and look forward to his continued impact within the Marine team,” Michael Hansen concludes.

About Hempel

As a world-leading supplier of trusted coating solutions, Hempel is a global company with strong values, working with customers in the decorative, marine, infrastructure and energy industries. Hempel factories, R&D centres and stock points are established in every region.

Across the globe, Hempel’s paints and coatings can be found in almost every country of the world. They protect and beautify buildings, infrastructure and other assets, and play an essential role in our customers’ businesses. They help minimise maintenance costs, improve aesthetics and increase energy efficiency.

At Hempel, our purpose is to shape a brighter future with sustainable coating solutions. We firmly believe that we will succeed as a business only if we place sustainability at our heart. Not only is it the right thing to do, it will strengthen our competitive position, make ourselves more resilient and reduce our risk.

Hempel was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1915. It is majority owned by the Hempel Foundation, which ensures a solid economic base for the Hempel Group and supports cultural, social, humanitarian and scientific purposes around the world. www.hempel.com