Good company overall, but can be political with some toxic leaders - Anonymous employee Huntsman Corp Employee Review

4.0
16 Sept 2024
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Years ago this was one of the world's best employers under Jon Huntsman Sr. People were treated with respect, and almost as a family. Pay was respectable and there were career growth opportunities. Indeed Peter Huntsman in about 2000 spoke, I believe at an APAC conference, about how a company like Dow Chemical wakes up one morning and decides to lay off thousands, and Huntsman then (in those days) tried not to do that, given the terrible impact on the families involved. Their business values then were impressive.

Cons

Huntsman is a third the size of what it used to be. The Current CEO has shrunk the company over decades. Which means any/all jobs there are subject to being acquired by other companies, and with associated job security risk (they call it synergies... ) . And given the scale issue, they will be less competitive with the BASF's and Dow Chemicals of the world. They simply will not be able to compete and over time, this will force more M&A and eventual dissolution of the company. Also, the Huntsman family gets put into positions of leadership that they have not earned via merit. This also will have a negative impact on the performance of the company, competing with super successful high merit Executive leaders at their competitors. Finally, their acquisition of ICI in the late 1990's turned the culture into British and Euro centric. Culturally ICI acquired Huntsman, even if financially, Huntsman acquired ICI. Now ICI had some great leaders without a doubt, but their time is past now. The Old Texaco Chemical Managers/Leaders that became Huntsman tended to be fairly political and even toxic. Fortunately many of them are now gone from Huntsman. The company is too willing to engage with China, which for an American company is questionable in terms of business risk and American patriotism.

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5.0
13 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great working culture. People are nice and nice office.

Cons

Negative balance sheet and legacy operations,

3.0
6 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Benefits company suppled tools safety is a priority

Cons

Poor leadership, lack of parts management, no professional development plan.

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