Novacel Appoints Emmanuel Rigaux as Chief Executive Officer
A New Chapter for Novacel
Novacel is pleased to announce the appointment of Emmanuel Rigaux as Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2026. His arrival marks an important milestone for the company as it continues to strengthen its position as a global leader in specialty process and protective films.
Driving Growth and Ambition
Emmanuel Rigaux joins Novacel at a pivotal moment, bringing more than 20 years of senior leadership experience across international industrial businesses. Throughout his career, he has successfully driven growth, led operational transformations, and delivered strong performance in complex global environments, particularly within private equity-backed companies.
His leadership style is closely aligned with Novacel’s culture and ambitions. Combining strategic vision with hands-on execution, Emmanuel is committed to fostering a culture of continuous improvement while building on the company’s legacy and strong team expertise. Under his leadership, Novacel aims to accelerate its development, reinforce innovation capabilities, and expand its global footprint.
“I am honored to join Novacel at such a strategic moment in its development. The company has strong foundations, talented teams, and a recognized global position. I look forward to working with everyone to build on this success and drive the company’s next stage of development.”
- Emmanuel Rigaux
A Strong International Background
Before joining Novacel, Emmanuel served as Chief Executive Officer of Heras Group, the leading European provider of perimeter protection solutions. There, he successfully led the company following its separation from CRH Group and significantly improved its operational and financial performance.
He previously held senior leadership roles at Balta Group as Chief Transformation Officer and Managing Director of the Commercial & Residential Europe division.
Earlier in his career, he spent two decades at Lafarge and Holcim, gaining extensive international experience across Europe, North America, and Africa.
He will be based at Novacel’s headquarters in Déville-lès-Rouen.
A Legacy of Leadership
Emmanuel succeeds Philippe Denoix, who is retiring after nearly two decades with Novacel and Compagnie Chargeurs Invest. During his tenure, Philippe held several key leadership positions, including Site Director, Industrial Performance Director, and Chief Executive Officer.
As CEO, he played a vital role in strengthening Novacel’s position as a global leader, successfully navigating challenging market conditions and guiding the company through its transition to a standalone, KPS-backed business. His leadership has laid strong foundations for the company’s next phase of growth.
Novacel sincerely thanks Philippe Denoix for his dedication and significant contributions and wishes him all the best in his retirement.
Novacel warmly welcomes Emmanuel Rigaux and wishes him every success in his new role. His appointment marks the beginning of a new phase of development for the company, driven by ambition, innovation, and long-term growth.
