Very poor leadership team - Director Albemarle Employee Review

1.0
18 Aug 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

For new college grads in chemistry or chemical engineering, the experience you get at ALB will be quite valuable later in your career. ALB practices every major unit op you learned about in school and then some. While starting salaries make not be the absolute highest in industry, they're usually competitive.

Cons

The leadership team is extremely weak. Of the top five leaders listed in the 10K, none have run a chemical plant and only one has run a chemical business (it is now worth half what it was when he took over). The CEO is an attorney and so is his top lieutenant. Unfortunately, neither one of them is very self assured, so they typically pick subordinates who are non-threatening and as weak as possible. Do you have any idea how bad a Chemist or Sales Director you have to be to be weaker than a career attorney? Unfortunately, this lack of leadership has now made it down into the ranks and plants. My advice to those looking for a job at ALB is to acquire as much valuable experience as possible and leave 2-3 yrs out of school.

Explore other reviews about Albemarle

5.0
17 Jun 2025
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Solid employer with competitive pay and benefits

Cons

Company culture has struggled since mass layoffs in 2024

2.0
24 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Nice office, mostly nice co-workers

Cons

Over extended capital investments, continually cycling between over hiring and reduction in force

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