Pioneers don’t just aim high. They make it happen.
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 Dr Eva Morsbach, Senior Vice President for Corporate Development and Sustainability.
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Dr Eva Morsbach – Senior Vice President Corporate Development & Sustainability (CD&S) Dr Eva Morsbach joined the company at the beginning of 2024 and recently expanded the Haltermann Carless Group's Executive Board with her CD&S division. Her task is to set the strategic direction of the company and respond to the major questions facing its future – such as in which markets and regions Haltermann Carless wants to grow in the future, where investments make sense and which business areas will remain relevant in the long term. She brings a combination of skills that is ideally suited to this position: as a PhD in chemistry with professional experience in strategy and M&A consulting, she combines a sound technical understanding with analytical and strategic thinking – an important foundation for realistically assessing the feasibility of new business areas and preparing forward-looking decisions. |
For me, pioneering spirit is about approaching unfamiliar territory with curiosity and courage – even without ready-made solutions. In strategy work, there are hardly any standard tasks, so a pioneering mindset is virtually part of the job description for us. We don't work according to fixed processes or recurring routines – every task, every project is new. We are constantly dealing with topics that are not only new to us personally, but also to the company – and sometimes even to the entire industry.
I am very fortunate that pioneering spirit is a given in our department. This is thanks to the people who are naturally enthusiastic about this type of work – and who are intrinsically motivated to drive new topics forward.
As a leader, I see it as my job to create a space where every opinion counts and employees can actively shape the future. A good idea is a good idea – regardless of whether it comes from someone with decades of professional experience or a new team member. It's the quality of the idea that counts, not the title.
Of course, it helps to communicate a clear vision and provide guidance. The fact that our department is part of the Executive Board ensures that we are involved in strategically important decisions at an early stage. Being close to the topics that set the direction gives me and my team the opportunity to play an active role in shaping the future – and that is motivating.
One example is our partnership with the start-up Firefly in the United Kingdom. The company has developed an innovative production technology to produce valuable new feedstock from sewage sludge. In doing so, we have developed a new model for our collaboration: for the first time, a service level agreement has been drawn up for our site in Harwich to enable the start-up to operate on our premises during a pilot phase.
That may sound unspectacular, but it was a big step for us because it enables new ways of operating a site within the company. It's no longer just about doing everything ourselves, but combining each other’s strength and needs in a way that both parties benefit – a real win-win.
Another example is a project in which we analysed the potential for Sustainable Aviation Fuels. We wanted to be the first commercial manufacturer in Germany to produce these aviation fuels using alcohol-to-jet technology. There were good reasons to look closely at this topic – but in the end, we decided not to pursue it further.
That is also part of our pioneering spirit: having the courage to abandon a project if it is not viable. Freeing up resources to tackle new challenges is often just as important as getting started.
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For me, two concepts are key here: optimism and determination.
On the one hand, this means confidence that we can shape the future with our skills. And on the other hand, it means determination to keep going – even over longer periods of time or in phases of uncertainty. Whether it's new partnerships, new business models or the implementation of strategic decisions: without this intrinsic drive, it's not possible.
The “green” transformation has long been a reality, but it has not arrived everywhere at the same pace. With our production technologies, we have the great advantage of being able to easily replace fossil raw materials with renewable alternatives – provided that our customers request this and are willing to reward the added value. In areas such as our specialty fuels and racing fuels, this is already a clear growth driver today.
It is also important to us to present our own sustainability efforts transparently. In recent years, my team has done a great job of setting up the necessary sustainability certifications, passing important audits and providing official sustainability credentials – which, incidentally, are also very important for our customers as part of their green transformation.
We recently had a workshop with my team where we discussed precisely this question. Under the motto ‘Start – Stop – Continue,’ everyone reflected on their own: What do I want to start, what do I want to stop, what do I want to continue in order to live more of a pioneering spirit? This personal reflection had a big impact. Because only when I myself feel why a topic is relevant to me will something change in my everyday life. That was a really good impetus for future tasks.
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.