German consumer goods maker Henkel named Jan-Dirk Auris, chief of the company's Asia-Pacific business, to replace the head of its adhesives unit. He replaces board member Thomas Geitner, who will step down on Dec. 31 for personal reasons, Henkel said in a statement on Friday.

Henkel's adhesives unit saw sales rise by 9.7% on an organic basis in the third quarter of 2010, generating €3.96 billion ($5.24 billion) in sales, more than the €3.8 billion forecast.

Auris, who joined Henkel in 1984 and has since held a number of management positions, has been the president for Henkel in the Asia-Pacific region since 2008.