Pioneers don’t just lead. They empower others. That is exactly what we do at Haltermann Carless. That is exactly what our new brand identity shows: Pioneers in hydrocarbons. We want to bring this attitude to life and make it visible. That is why we conducted an interview on the topic of pioneering spirit with all six members of the Executive Board. They shed light on the topic of pioneering spirit in their respective areas of the company – authentically, approachably and inspiringly. Today with CEO Peter Friesenhahn.
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Peter Friesenhahn – Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Peter Friesenhahn has been CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of the Haltermann Carless Group since 1 January 2024. He brings with him many years of management experience in various senior positions. In his role, he is responsible for the strategic direction of the group, driving innovation and transformation and strengthening the market positioning of the Haltermann Carless, ETS Racing Fuels and Electrical Oil Services brands. He is particularly enthusiastic about his role because the company combines a pioneering spirit with sustainable development. His work focuses on systematically developing existing potential with a focus on customer focus, future viability and collaboration. |
To me, pioneering spirit means putting things in motion, trying out new ideas, and simply taking action – and then seeing what comes of it.
It’s about creating momentum, sparking ideas, and initiating something that did not exist before. Often, it starts small but can develop into something with a big and lasting impact.
For me, this also includes two qualities that people may not like to talk about: courage and toughness. Being a pioneer also means being able to see things through – even when it gets uncomfortable. That means making unpopular decisions and speaking plainly. For me, that's part of clear and responsible leadership.
And it’s about vision: the courage to think differently, to develop new solutions, and to inspire others along the way. This combination of creativity, perseverance, and curiosity is what truly defines a pioneering spirit for me.
As I mentioned earlier, I am motivated by putting things in motion, as I like to call it. This has been a recurring theme throughout my professional career. I may not be a technical expert on every chemical detail – but I am someone who can inspire, connect and empower others. And that is more in demand today than ever before: bringing people together, shaping change, embracing new ideas. I am excited by how a team can work together to achieve something that has a lasting impact. For me, that is pioneering spirit in action.
At Haltermann Carless, I am particularly fascinated by our long company history. Our founding fathers built something from nothing with courage and ingenuity. For example, they made a significant contribution to the emerging automotive industry in the 19th century with the development of Petrol. Pioneering work at the time, today a proud chapter in our success story.
We are consistently continuing this pioneering spirit. A current example is the development of sustainable fuels for classic cars – a product that connects the past and the future. “Back to the roots” – but with an eye to the future.
In my role as CEO, I experience this very intensely with my colleagues on the Executive Board – since this year, we are a diverse team of six. Every day, we feel the pressure to be groundbreakers. It's about anchoring a new mindset throughout the company – the desire to shape something, to make something tangible. We have given this a strong impetus with our internal RACE transformation programme and our new brand identity.
A key area that demonstrates this desire to shape the future is the development of sustainable solutions. They represent the change we are driving forward – and the responsibility we are taking on. We come from a world of fossil fuels, but we already offer a wide range of completely sustainable alternatives. Examples include our racing fuels, which we produce from up to 100% renewable raw materials. Our bio-based products for the cosmetics industry. And our comprehensive services for transformer oils, which we recycle to a quality equivalent to that of virigin oil. In short, we develop what really moves our customers forward.
Because one thing is clear to me: a pioneering spirit must always go hand in hand with customer focus. Innovation is not an end in itself – it creates real benefits. And that means, first and foremost, communicating clearly what those benefits are.
Of course, there are also challenges – especially with the green transformation. On one hand, we can't change everything overnight. On the other hand, we also see that some customers and industries are not yet ready to pay a higher price for sustainable alternatives.
As a company, we are consciously facing this change in the market and can proudly say that we have already achieved a great deal in terms of sustainability.
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‘Value x2’ does not mean working twice as hard. It means being twice as effective – more efficient, smarter, more focused. It is both a mindset and a leadership model. Pioneering spirit helps us enormously in this regard. Because when we have the courage to break new ground, solutions often emerge that create real added value – for customers, for the company, for us as a team. Since we started focusing on ‘Value x2’, I have also noticed that I am more mindful. I think more consciously about what has an impact – and what doesn't.
We have already set a strong course, now it's about maintaining momentum. Staying on track. We want to specifically empower our managers to take even more personal responsibility and to act and make decisions like entrepreneurs. We are driving forward innovative and sustainable product development and also how we set up our production facilities in a sustainable manner – especially with regard to energy efficiency.
It's about making the company future-proof – and involving the entire team in the process. Because transformation can only succeed if we work together, and pioneering spirit thrives on positive emotions, the right mindset and true conviction. We will continue to communicate, inspire and build trust. Because ultimately, pioneering spirit means inspiring people, engaging people and leading people. Thinking in a solution-oriented way, putting ideas into practice, generating energy and setting things in motion – that is my goal.
Stay tuned: In our series of interviews, all six members of the Haltermann Carless Executive Board have their say. It becomes clear that pioneering spirit has many faces. Every perspective is different - and it is precisely this diversity in the management team that makes our pioneering spirit possible.
Do you have any questions? We look forward to hearing from you.