- CEO
- Carsten Knobel
- Full Time Employees
- 47,200
- Sector
- Process industries
- Industry
- Industrial specialties
- Address
- Henkelstrasse 67 Dusseldorf NW Germany 40589
- IPO Date
- Jun 7, 1905
- Business
- Henkel AG & Co. KGaA is a German multinational company primarily engaged in the manufacture and sale of adhesives, sealants, and functional coatings, as well as consumer goods in the laundry and home care and hair care segments. The company operates through two major business units: Adhesive Technologies and Consumer Brands. Adhesive Technologies offers a broad portfolio of approximately 20,000 products including industrial adhesives, sealants, and functional coatings for sectors such as mobility and electronics, packaging and consumer goods, and craftsmen, construction and professional markets under key brands like Loctite, Bonderite, Aquence, and Technomelt. The Consumer Brands unit markets branded consumer goods encompassing laundry and home care products and hair care, including professional hair care services, with prominent brands such as Persil, Schwarzkopf, Dial, Purex, got2b, and Palette. Henkel conducts business globally, with operations across Europe, India, the Middle East, Africa, North America, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific. Founded in 1876, the company is headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany.
Recent major developments include accelerated integration within the Consumer Brands segment with faster than planned team and portfolio consolidation, leading to full cost savings expected by the end of 2025. Henkel also implemented a new organizational setup for Adhesive Technologies in 2023 which has generated improved performance and organic sales growth. Strategic acquisitions in the last two years to bolster growth include the purchase of U.S.-based Seal for Life Industries and Vidal Sassoon in China, expanding Henkel’s infrastructure maintenance and protective coatings portfolio as well as strengthening its position in the hair care market. Additionally, Henkel advanced its innovation capabilities with new product developments such as enzyme technology for textile care in Perwoll, and expanded its e-mobility testing center to support automotive and battery manufacturers. The company has also embarked on digital transformation plans including a migration to SAP S/4HANA between 2025 and 2028 to enhance agility. Financially, Henkel reported strong 2024 results with sales reaching 21.6 billion euros, an increase in adjusted operating profit by over 20 percent, and announced a new share buyback program of up to 1 billion euros to accelerate shareholder value.
Henkel remains a global leader in adhesives, sealants, and functional coatings with a well-diversified portfolio balancing industrial and consumer businesses, supported by ongoing innovation, acquisitions, and operational restructuring initiatives to drive sustainable growth and profitability. The company’s strategic growth agenda is complemented by a strong focus on sustainability and climate protection targets including a net-zero roadmap. Henkel employs approximately 47,000 people worldwide and continues to solidify its market leadership across its diversified product segments and geographic footprint.