Brazil’s petrochemicals industry has been going through active consolidation, a phase that is almost at an end. That process, however, has seen the creation and growth of Braskem, a giant of a firm that is the largest petrochemicals producer not just in Brazil but in all of Latin America. Bernardo Gradin, who has been part of Braskem since the company’s formation in 2002, took over in July as its CEO. In an interview with Knowledge at Wharton conducted at the company’s Sao Paulo headquarters, Gradin discussed Braskem’s goal of becoming one of the world’s top 10 petrochemical companies as measured by shareholder value. An edited transcript of the interview appears below: Knowledge at Wharton: You took over in July as the CEO of Braskem. The company was formed in 2002 as part of the consolidation of Brazil’s petrochemical industry. Could you start by providing some background and context on that process? Why was that consolidation needed?…