Stephan van Santbrink to become Arlanxeo CEO

Stephan van Santbrink will become chief executive officer of Arlanxeo on 1 October following Donald D. Chen’s retirement from this position. Chen will remain involved with the company in a senior advisory capacity until 1 February 2024 to ensure a smooth transition of leadership and the continuation of important strategic projects.

“On behalf of the entire Shareholders’ Committee, I would like to thank Donald for his leadership and dedication,” says Olivier Thorel, chairman of the Arlanxeo Shareholders’ Committee and senior vice president of Chemicals, Saudi Aramco Oil Company. “As an experienced industry leader, he has led our global group since 2019 with determination and professionalism, fostering a stronger safety culture. Having successfully steered the business through significant market challenges and the Covid crisis, he laid the foundation for the long-term success of our business. We wish him the very best to him and his family for the future.”

Donald Chen (Photo: Arlanxeo)

Quarter century of oil & gas experience

Stephan van Santbrink has been one of Arlanxeo’s Non-Executive Board members since March 2023. He will be based in The Hague and comes to Arlanxeo from Aramco, where he was the downstream chief financial officer, head of Strategy & Business Support, and brings some 25 years of oil and gas experience from both Aramco and Shell.

In addition to looking after the overall financial performance of Aramco’s Downstream business he is an active Board/committee member of internationally leading companies like SABIC, Motiva Enterprises, SATORP and Aramco Trading, helping those companies to perform at their best and we are looking forward to him bringing this experience to Arlanxeo.

Van Santbrink is Dutch and holds degrees in Law and Economics from the University of Amsterdam and obtained his MBA from the Rotterdam School of Management.