Bill Collins

Former CFO, Clariant AG | Board Director Candidate | Governance, Transformation, Audit Committee & Industrial Leadership

United States

About

Former public-company CFO and global executive with more than 30 years of leadership experience across specialty chemicals, industrial manufacturing, coatings, energy, and infrastructure businesses operating throughout Europe, North America, and Asia. Most recently, I served as Chief Financial Officer of Clariant AG, a Swiss-listed global specialty chemicals company. Throughout my career, I have worked closely with Boards of Directors, Audit Committees, CEOs, investors, regulators, and external auditors on matters involving governance, enterprise risk management, capital allocation, financial reporting, mergers and acquisitions, and long-term value creation. A significant portion of my experience has involved helping organizations navigate transformation and periods of heightened stakeholder scrutiny. At Clariant, I led governance remediation and control enhancement efforts following a public accounting investigation, partnering closely with the Board and Audit Committee to strengthen controls, improve transparency, and restore stakeholder confidence. Today, I am focused on select board and advisory opportunities where I can contribute experience in: • Audit Committee Leadership & Financial Oversight • Governance, Risk Management & Regulatory Compliance • Transformation & Performance Improvement • Capital Allocation & Strategic Decision-Making • M&A & Integration • Executive Succession & Leadership Transitions • International Business Leadership

Experience

  • Group Chief Financial Officer at Clariant
    Jul 2022 - Jul 2025 · 3 yrs 1 mo

  • ENGIE North America Inc. (Houston, Texas, United States)
    • President & CEO
      Jul 2021 - Jul 2022 · 1 yr 1 mo

    • Interim Chief Executive Officer
      Feb 2021 - Jun 2021 · 5 mos

    • SVP Chief Financial Officer
      Apr 2020 - Feb 2021 · 11 mos

  • Group Deputy CFO at ENGIE
    Oct 2018 - Apr 2020 · 1 yr 7 mos

  • AkzoNobel (Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands)
    • Group Controller
      Sep 2017 - Oct 2018 · 1 yr 2 mos

    • Interim CEO of Performance Coatings
      Apr 2017 - Sep 2017 · 6 mos

    • CFO - Performance Coatings
      Apr 2015 - Apr 2017 · 2 yrs 1 mo

  • Eaton Corporation (8 yrs 4 mos)
    • VP Finance - Americas, & Assistant Controller
      Jul 2013 - Apr 2015 · 1 yr 10 mos

    • VP Finance - Europe, Middle East, & Africa
      Aug 2009 - Jul 2013 · 4 yrs

    • Director, Finance - Heavy-Duty Transmission Division
      Jan 2007 - Jul 2009 · 2 yrs 7 mos