Full-Time
Updated on 9/10/2026
Global producer of lithium, bromine, catalysts
No salary listed
Pasadena, TX, USA
In Person
Bachelor's, Associate's
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Albemarle is a global specialty chemicals supplier focused on lithium, bromine, and catalysts. It extracts lithium from brine and hard rock and processes it into battery-grade materials for electric vehicles and energy storage, while also supplying bromine for fire safety and chemical synthesis and providing catalysts for chemical manufacturing. It differentiates itself with end-to-end lithium mining and processing, a broad product portfolio, and a worldwide footprint, including being the only active lithium producer in the United States. Its goal is to secure and deliver essential materials that enable mobility, energy storage, and connectivity, supporting the transition to electric power and advanced chemistry.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Founded
1887
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Paid Vacation
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Professional Development Budget
Albemarle names BHP executive Ragnar Udd as next CEO. Albemarle has named BHP executive Ragnar "Rag" Udd as its next president and chief executive officer, setting up a leadership transition at one of the world's largest lithium producers as the company navigates a volatile battery-metals market. Udd will take over on February 1, 2027, and will also join Albemarle's board of directors. Current Chairman and CEO Kent Masters will move into the role of executive chairman when Udd assumes the top job, according to the company's announcement. Udd is currently BHP's chief commercial officer, with responsibility for sales and marketing, procurement, maritime operations and commodity market strategy. He has spent more than 25 years in the resources sector and previously served as BHP's President Americas, overseeing its copper and potash businesses. BHP continues to list Udd as chief commercial officer and a member of its executive leadership team. The appointment brings a senior mining executive with experience across major commodity markets into Albemarle at a consequential point for the global lithium industry. Lithium producers have spent recent years adjusting investment and operating plans in response to sharp swings in prices. Albemarle announced earlier this year that it would idle its Kemerton lithium hydroxide processing plant in Australia, citing prolonged price volatility and challenging economics for Western hard-rock lithium conversion. At the same time, market conditions have shown improvement. Albemarle's Energy Storage business reported second-quarter 2026 results against a backdrop of recovering lithium pricing, while the company continues to emphasize cost reductions, capital discipline and productivity improvements. Its 2026 outlook remains highly sensitive to lithium prices. Masters has led Albemarle since April 2020, when he was appointed chairman, president and CEO. His tenure has covered both the lithium price boom associated with rapid electric-vehicle growth and the subsequent market downturn that forced producers across the sector to reassess expansion plans and spending. Masters is expected to serve as executive chairman through Albemarle's 2027 annual shareholder meeting, after which his role will be reviewed as part of the board's normal nomination process. For Albemarle, Udd's appointment signals a continued emphasis on operating discipline and commodity-market expertise as the company positions its lithium portfolio for longer-term growth in electric vehicles and energy storage. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Albemarle appoints BHP's Udd as CEO. Reading Time: 3 mins read BHP chief commercial officer Ragnar "Rag" Udd will take the helm of global lithium producer Albemarle Corporation, bringing more than 25 years of operational and commercial resources experience to the role. Udd will become Albemarle president and chief executive officer on February 1, 2027, immediately after leaving BHP at the end of January. He will also join the company's board of directors. His appointment places an executive with extensive Australian mining experience at the head of a major global lithium business with significant operations and investments in Western Australia. Albemarle holds strategic interests in the Wodgina lithium mine joint venture and the Greenbushes lithium mine, as well as exploration tenements across the Pilbara, Goldfields and South West regions. The company also established the Kemerton lithium plant in WA's South West. The facility is transitioning to care and maintenance following Albemarle's decision earlier this year to discontinue operations. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker ALB, Albemarle has a market capitalisation of approximately $US15.60 billion. Udd is currently a member of BHP's executive leadership team, with responsibility for the miner's global sales and marketing, procurement, maritime activities and commodities market strategy. He joined BHP in 1997 as a project and compliance engineer at the San Juan mine in New Mexico before progressing through senior operational, commercial, technology, logistics and infrastructure positions across Australia, Asia and the Americas. His previous roles include president Americas, where he led BHP's copper and potash businesses, interim chief technology officer and asset president of the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance. Udd has also served as vice president logistics and infrastructure for BHP's Western Australia Iron Ore division, giving him experience across the mine-to-market supply chain of one of Australia's largest mining operations. More recently, he has been responsible for BHP's negotiations with China Mineral Resources Group as the state-backed buyer increased pressure on major iron ore producers to improve purchasing terms for Chinese steelmakers. Albemarle lead independent director Gerald Steiner said Udd's appointment followed an extensive selection process. "Rag's appointment as our next CEO follows a comprehensive succession planning process conducted by the Board," Steiner said. "Rag brings extensive commercial and operational expertise in natural resources and has successfully led global commercial strategy and advanced disciplined growth across complex businesses." Udd said Albemarle's resources, technical capabilities and established customer relationships provided a strong platform for the company. "Albemarle has world-class natural resources, deep technical expertise and strong customer partnerships," he said. "I am excited to work with Kent, the leadership team and the Board to build on the Company's strong foundation in both its Energy Storage and Specialties business segments." Current Albemarle chairman and CEO Kent Masters will transition to executive chairman when Udd assumes the position, while Steiner will remain lead independent director. BHP is expected to announce its next chief commercial officer in the coming months.
Big Charlotte employer taps outsider as new CEO: 'Confident he is the right leader' Updated September 3, 2026 1:20 PM Gift Article Ragnar "Rag" Udd will join Albemarle as president and CEO, effective Feb. 1, 2027, the specialty chemical manufacturer said Thursday. On Wednesday, Udd announced he was leaving his role as chief commercial officer at BHP of Australia. That company is the world's largest mining company by market capitalization at $237.1 billion, and is a leading producer of iron ore, copper and metallurgical coal. Albemarle chairman lead independent director Gerald Steiner stated that the appointment follows a board succession planning process and that board members are "confident he is the right leader." "Rag brings extensive commercial and operational expertise in natural resources and has successfully led global commercial strategy and advanced disciplined growth across complex businesses," Steiner said. Current chairman and CEO Kent Masters, 65, will move into the role of executive chairman of the board. Masters has been Albemarle's CEO since April 2020. "I am proud of what we have achieved together, and I am confident now is the right time to transition the leadership to Rag, who is well positioned to lead Albemarle's future," Masters said in a statement. "I look forward to working closely with him to ensure a seamless transition." Masters joined the Albemarle's board of directors in 2015 as part of Albemarle's acquisition of Rockwood Holdings. He took the role of Albemarle's lead independent director in 2018 until becoming CEO. Albemarle is one of the Charlotte region's bigger employers. As of Dec. 31, Albemarle had about 7,800 employees companywide, including about 2,000 locally. Who is Albemarle's new CEO? In a statement, Udd, 54, expressed enthusiasm about joining Albemarle and leading its energy storage and specialties business segments alongside Masters and the executive team. "After nearly three decades with BHP, I've made the decision to take up a new opportunity outside BHP," Udd said on his LinkedIn page. Udd has nearly 30 years of global resources experience across North and South America, Asia and Australia with BHP. His background at BHP also includes roles as president of Americas, leading copper and potash businesses. Udd, who was based in Singapore, has a background in operations, logistics, projects, infrastructure and technology, according to BHP. He has a bachelor's degree in mining engineering as well as master's of engineering and master's of business administration degrees. More about Albemarle corp. The new leadership comes as Albemarle prepares to reopen a dormant 1,200-acre lithium mine outside of Charlotte, which recently completed the necessary federal permitting process. The Kings Mountain mine in Cleveland County is about 30 miles west of Charlotte. Dormant since the late 1980s, the site is one of the few places in the world where lithium mining is possible. Large green areas in white pegmatite rock called spodumene are extracted to make lithium. Lithium is used in batteries to power electric vehicles, bikes and personal electronic devices. In February, Albemarle completed removing 1.57 billion gallons of water from its open pit, a two-year process that treated and discharged accumulated rainwater. Just two years ago, Albemarle outlined $750 million in cost-cutting measures including layoffs and project postponements amid plummeting EV sales. This year, the company is seeing a turnaround with a boost fueled by demand for lithium in energy storage for data centers handling AI. Data center power storage requirements are significantly higher than those used by electric vehicles. Albemarle reported net sales of $1.7 billion in the second quarter ending June 30, up 31% year-over-year. "We continue to see resilient demand fundamentals across our core markets, including energy storage, electric vehicles, and semiconductors," Master said. This story was originally published September 3, 2026 at 11:35 AM. December 27, 2024 6:00 AM February 13, 2026 5:00 AM The Charlotte Observer Catherine Muccigrosso covers retail, banking and other business news for The Charlotte Observer. An award-winning journalist, she has worked for multiple newspapers in the Carolinas, Missouri and New York.
Albemarle names ragnar udd president and CEO. Published on 09/03/2026 at 08:52 am EDT MT Newswires or by email Albemarle Corporation is one of the world's leading manufacturers of specialty chemicals. The group's products are aimed primarily at the petroleum refining, energy storage, consumer electronics, construction, crop protection, automotive, food safety and pharmaceuticals industries. Net sales break down by family of products as follows: - lithium and polymer solutions (52.7%); - bromine (26.6%); - catalysts (20.7%). Net sales are distributed geographically as follows: the United States (17.3%), China (39.4%), South Korea (15.4%), Japan (7%) and other (20.9%).
Albemarle Corporation announced a CEO succession plan, with Ragnar Udd appointed president and chief executive officer effective 1 February 2027. Udd, currently chief commercial officer at BHP, brings over 25 years of experience leading global resources businesses across Australia, Asia, and the Americas. Current chairman and CEO Kent Masters will transition to executive chairman upon Udd's arrival, leading board governance and supporting strategic planning. Masters will serve in this role through the company's 2027 annual shareholder meeting. The appointment follows a comprehensive succession planning process. Albemarle, a New York Stock Exchange-listed company, is a global leader in lithium and bromine production for mobility, energy, connectivity, and health applications. Gerald Steiner will continue as lead independent director.