Lars Wallstein to Become New Oqema CEO
Lars Wallstein will become the new CEO of the Oqema Group. The former head of IMCD Germany will join the executive board of the Mönchengladbach, Germany-based chemical distributor effective July 1, 2026.
Lars Wallstein will join the management team of the Mönchengladbach-based chemical distributor alongside COO Philipp Junge and CFO Hartmut Kunz. He will succeed CEO Patrick Barthels at Oqema , who has decided to scale back his professional responsibilities and will lead the Flavors & Fragrances division as Regional President F&F starting January 1, 2027.
Wallstein brings more than 25 years of international leadership and management experience in chemical distribution and specialty chemicals. Most recently, he served as Managing Director at IMCD , where he was responsible for Germany and other international markets. During this time, he strategically developed business units, built international teams, and successfully transformed companies through acquisitions and integrations. In addition, as President of the European Chemical Distribution Association (FECC), Wallstein is committed to the successful development of the entire industry.
Wallstein began his career in 2001 at PolymerLatex, a former 50:50 joint venture between Bayer and Degussa. In 2011, he moved to Synthomer, where he held various leadership positions, including Managing Director in Germany and head of several global business units. Wallstein has been a member of the FECC Executive Board since 2021 and was appointed its President in 2023.
Since early 2025, Oqema has once again been wholly owned by the Overlack founding family. Following a decade-long partnership with Hannover Finanz, an equity partner for small and medium-sized businesses, this transition marks not only a return to its roots for the distributor of basic and specialty chemicals, but also a pivotal moment in its history and the beginning of a new chapter.
“Lars Wallstein and I have known each other for twenty years—sometimes as a supplier, sometimes as a competitor. Now I’m delighted that he’s part of Oqema and will be continuing the work of Patrick Barthels,” adds Peter Overlack, Chairman of the Supervisory Board.
“With Lars Wallstein, we’re gaining a CEO who knows our industry and has an excellent network,” explains current CEO Patrick Barthels. “He understands both the producers’ and the distributors’ perspectives; that’s exactly the combination we need to further develop our leadership team.”
And Lars Wallstein adds: “I’m very much looking forward to this new role and the opportunity to further shape and develop Oqema. Over the years, I’ve had repeated points of contact with Oqema. The corporate culture and the continuous growth of recent years have made a lasting impression on me.”
