BASF has announced changes to its managing board as well as a redistribution of board responsibilities from May 13, 2017. Two executives are due to step down, with Margret Suckale, 60, retiring and Dr. Harald Schwager, 56, leaving the board “in support of long- term succession planning.” Saori Dubourg and Markus Kamieth have been appointed as new board members. Dubourg, 45, has been head of BASF’s Health & Nutrition division since 2013, while Kamieth, 46, has led BASF’s Coatings division since 2012.

Schwager, who was appointed to the board in 2008, is currently responsible for the BASF divisions Construction Chemicals; Crop Protection; Bioscience Research and the region Europe. Suckale, the first woman to serve on the board, appointed in 2011, is Industrial Relations Director and has responsibility for the divisions Engineering & Maintenance; Environmental Protection, Health & Safety; European Site & Verbund Management and Human Resources.

With the managing board changes, responsibilities will be redistributed. Chairman, Dr. Kurt Bock, 58, will oversee Legal, Taxes, Insurance & Intellectual Property; Corporate Development; Corporate Communications & Government Relations and Senior Executive Human Resources, as well as Investor Relations and Compliance.

Michael Heinz, 52, will replace Suckale as Industrial Relations Director and also oversee Engineering & Maintenance; Environmental Protection, Health & Safety; European Site & Verbund Management and Human Resources.

Hans-Ulrich Engel, 57, will continue as Chief Financial Officer and have responsibility for Finance; Oil & Gas; Procurement; Supply Chain Operations & Information Services; Corporate Controlling; and Corporate Audit.

Markus Kamieth‘s board responsibilities will extend to Care Chemicals; Nutrition & Health; Performance Chemicals; Advanced Materials & Systems Research and the region South America.

Saori Dubourg will oversee Construction Chemicals; Crop Protection; Bioscience Research and the region Europe.

The future responsibilities of Martin Brudermüller, 55, the board’s vice chairman and chief technology officer, will include Petrochemicals; Monomers; Intermediates; Process Research & Chemical Engineering and Corporate Technology & Operational Excellence in addition to BASF New Business.

Wayne T. Smith, 56, the board member based in North America, will have charge of Catalysts; Coatings; Performance Materials; Market & Business Development, Site & Verbund Management North America and the regional functions & country platforms North America.

BASF’s board member based in Asia, Sanjeev Gandhi, 49, will oversee Dispersions & Pigments; Greater China & Functions Asia Pacific; South & East Asia, ASEAN & ANZ (Australia-New Zealand).