Huntsman Names ChampionX Legal Chief Julia Wright as New General Counsel

Huntsman Corp. announced Thursday that it has appointed Julia Wright as its next vice president, general counsel, and secretary, effective Oct. 13, as longtime legal chief David Stryker prepares to retire at the end of the year.

Stryker, who has served as Huntsman’s general counsel since 2013, will transition to the chairman’s office for the remainder of his tenure as executive vice president for strategic initiatives, where he will focus on corporate-level projects and support Wright during the transition, the company said.

CEO Praises Wright’s Track Record

Huntsman’s president and CEO Peter R. Huntsman said the company’s leadership and board were impressed by Wright’s breadth of experience and accomplishments during her time at ChampionX Corp.

“The most senior lawyer at Huntsman Corporation has always played a vital role in our company far beyond ordinary course legal responsibilities, and during her tenure at ChampionX, Julia played a pivotal role in establishing and developing a full-service legal and compliance function, building talent at every level in the organization,” Huntsman said.

He noted that Wright effectively created the company’s legal department from scratch after Apergy’s 2018 spin-off from Dover Corp., later leading negotiations for the multibillion-dollar acquisition of Ecolab’s upstream chemicals business in 2020, and ultimately guiding ChampionX through its sale to SLB (formerly Schlumberger) earlier this year.

“Given her experience at ChampionX, Nabors Industries, and in private practice, I have no doubt that Julia will continue building our legal department to safeguard our company and further enhance shareholder value,” Huntsman added.

Wright’s Career Path

Wright brings more than a decade of senior executive experience to Huntsman. She most recently served for over seven and a half years as senior vice president, general counsel, and secretary at ChampionX, where she oversaw corporate governance, compliance, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, employment, commercial matters, intellectual property, shareholder engagement, and SEC reporting obligations until the company was acquired by SLB in July.

Her earlier career includes over 11 years with Nabors Industries, where she rose to become vice president and general counsel, with a break to serve nearly two years as general counsel of Tesco Corp.

Before entering the energy sector, Wright worked in private practice, beginning her legal career at Vinson & Elkins LLP and later practicing at Baker McKenzie.

She holds a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law, a master’s degree from Columbia University, and a bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University.

Wright could not immediately be reached for comment Monday.

Stryker’s Legacy

Stryker, who has been Huntsman’s top lawyer for more than a decade, will remain engaged until year-end, focusing on strategic projects while assisting in the leadership transition.

“David Stryker has served this company extraordinarily well during his tenure here as general counsel,” CEO Huntsman said. “By defending shareholder rights and collecting exceptional legal victories, David’s expertise has materially strengthened our balance sheet and added significant value. David’s tenacity and influence across our entire company has left us a far better company than we otherwise would have been. I look forward to my continued work with David as we further execute our strategic objectives.”

Company Overview

Headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas, near Houston, Huntsman operates more than 60 manufacturing, R&D, and operations facilities across approximately 25 countries. The company employs about 6,300 people worldwide.