CHEManager International’s 20th Anniversary: Going Global
CHEManager International’s 20th anniversary marks the starting signal for a new era.
Christene Smith, Editor-in-Chief CHEManager International, and Michael Reubold, Publishing Manager CHEManager & Managing Editor CHEManager International
As editors, we’ve had the privilege of guiding CHEManager International through a period of remarkable transformation. Our journey began in 2005, when the English-language edition launched as CHEManager Europe. Back then, our goal was on mirroring the success of the German edition in the international market and our focus was on serving the European chemical and pharmaceutical management community, providing insights tailored to a regional audience.
However, as the industry’s boundaries blurred and globalization accelerated, we recognized the need to broaden our perspective. In 2014, we rebranded as CHEManager International, embracing a global outlook that reflected the interconnected nature of our readers’ work. Today, our publication reaches decision-makers across Europe, America, Asia, and the Middle East, with a digital circulation of 120,000 copies. This evolution has been driven by our commitment to adapt and respond to the changing needs of the industry, ensuring our editorial direction remains relevant and forward-thinking.
Back to the Beginning
But let us look back to when it all started. This anniversary could not be celebrated if CHEManager, the German-language trade journal, had not been founded in 1992. Within a short period of time, it became the leading industry newspaper for executives and decision-makers in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry.
In 2002, CHEManager was acquired by the renowned chemistry publisher Wiley headquartered in Hoboken, NJ, USA. This circumstance was a decisive factor in the subsequent internationalization strategy. In 2005, an English-language edition was launched under the name CHEManager Europe.
“We recognized
the need to broaden
our perspective”
At the same time, a US office was established at Wiley’s headquarters in Hoboken, and CHEManager founding member Michael “Mike” Reubold moved to the US for three years to expand international business with North American customers.
Initially printed in newspaper format, CHEManager Europe developed successfully and established itself in the echelon of leading international chemical industry media. The name change to CHEManager International and the switch to a more internationally common tabloid format marked the beginning of its second decade in 2016. Meanwhile, CHEManager International has become one of the premier media brands for the chemical, pharmaceutical, and biotech industries empowering managers and executives with a competitive edge through timely business news, expert insights, and the latest market data, enabling strategic business and investment decisions. State-of-the-art communication channels — including digital editions, a recently updated website, bi-weekly newsletters, expanded reach via LinkedIn channels, and direct engagement through virtual events — ensure 24/7 access to our target audience.
Navigating Industry Transformation
Today, CHEManager International is part of Wiley’s Corporate Solutions business, which underscores the purpose envisioned for the publication 20 years ago: We —Editor-in-Chief since early 2025, Christene Smith, and Mike Reubold and the entire editorial and sales team — aim to make the CHEManager brand the premier information platform that delivers solutions for business processes at all levels, whether strategic or operational.
As Charles Darwin wisely said, “Nothing in the history of life is as constant as change”. The chemical industry, too, is subject to ongoing change; sometimes it is evolution, sometimes revolution, and currently there is a profound transformation driven by multiple factors —geopolitical, industrial, technological, and societal. The chemical and pharmaceutical world looks very different from 2005, when we started this publication. Think of mega trends such as sustainability, circular economy, artificial intelligence that have set in motion an unprecedented, multi-layered transformation that we are currently experiencing and that will profoundly change the face of the industry. This transformation is also significantly driven by developing economies in Asia that are evolving from being the workbench for industrialized nations to becoming self-sufficient and even exporting nations that compete with Western industrialized countries.
“The way we deliver content has evolved alongside the industry itself”
Adapting to Change
We have set out to accompany and help shape this transformation through substantiated and insightful information. Hence, industry transformation and societal change are being reflected: in the topics covered in CHEManager International, and for example, in the makeup of our authors and readership. Even though the ratio of male to female interviewees and authors still favors men, in recent years it has been shifting more toward women in leadership positions. The proportion of women now averages around 40%. Partnerships in recent years with organizations like Women in Chemicals, along with the natural evolution of the industry itself, help to positively influence this shift.
Just as evident as the changing gender ratio is the decreasing average age of our authors and readers—not least since we introduced our CHEManager Innovation Pitch section in 2020, giving start-ups and young entrepreneurs the chance to present their companies and business ideas in CHEManager International. Thanks to our sponsors, start-ups are given a platform to reach supporters, investors, partners, or customers. Start-ups play an increasingly important role in the innovative capacity of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. With this young target group, CHEManager International is also seeing changing reading habits.
Therefore, the way we deliver content has evolved alongside the industry itself. While print remains a cornerstone of our brand, we’ve expanded into digital editions, newsletters, social media channels, and invested in our online portal. This cross-media approach allows us to reach a wider audience and engage with readers in new, interactive ways. We’ve also embraced virtual events, creating platforms for dialogue and collaboration beyond the printed page. By integrating print and digital, we ensure CHEManager International remains accessible, timely, and relevant in a rapidly changing media landscape. Our commitment is to continue innovating how we share knowledge, supporting our readers wherever they are.
Thus, the “CHEManager Community” now consists not only of readers, but also of “visitors” and “followers.” Our bilingual online portal CHEManager.com consistently attracts over 80,000 visitors each month, and our LinkedIn channels (German & English language) are followed by almost 48,000 LinkedIn members from all over the world.
“The CHEManager International team is more than just editorial—it’s a collaborative network”
Leading Chemical Industry Insights
Throughout this journey, our editorial mission has remained clear: to deliver management insights that empower professionals in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and biotech sectors. Over the years, we’ve witnessed—and reported on—shifts in industry priorities. In our early editions, we focused on European markets, corporate strategies, and plant engineering. As digitalization and globalization took hold, our coverage expanded to include Industry 4.0, sustainability, and the circular economy. More recently, we’ve highlighted innovation, biotechnology, start-ups, decarbonization, and regulatory developments such as the Supply Chain Act and PFAS regulations. By collaborating with experts and thought leaders, we strive to provide our readers with the knowledge they need to navigate a complex, fast-evolving landscape.
Innovation and Sustainability Focus
Innovation and sustainability have become central themes in our editorial planning. The industry’s rapid embrace of new technologies, coupled with an urgent need for sustainable solutions, has shaped our content in profound ways. We’ve dedicated special issues and features to topics like digital transformation, green chemistry, and the rise of biotech start-ups. Our goal is to spotlight pioneering companies and individuals who are driving change, whether through decarbonization initiatives, circular economy models, or groundbreaking research. By sharing these stories, we hope to inspire our readers to pursue innovation and sustainability in their own organizations, fostering a culture of progress and responsibility.
Team Spotlight
None of this would be possible without our exceptional team. We want to especially recognize Brandi Schuster, who played a pivotal role as the first Editor-in-Chief of CHEManager Europe and helped shape the international edition from its inception in 2005 until 2014. Ralf Kempf, who was acting Editor-in-Chief until earlier this year, also made significant contributions, and his dedication remains part of our legacy. Our heartfelt thanks go to our assistants, Beate Zimmermann, Lisa Colavito, and Bettina Wagenhals, whose organizational skills and positive energy keep everything running smoothly. More thanks to our talented layout colleague, Oliver Haja, who brings each issue to life visually. We’re grateful for our media consultants, especially Thorsten Kritzer, whose expertise ensures our content reaches the right audience. The CHEManager International team is more than just editorial—it’s a collaborative network of writers, consultants, designers, and support staff, all united by a shared commitment to excellence. Together, we celebrate every milestone and look forward to new challenges ahead.
