Jan-Peter Sander (53) has been named Senior Vice President of BASF's business unit Personal Care Europe, and will take up the role on October 1, 2012.

Prior to his appointment, he held the same position at BASF' business unit Pigments and Resins Europe.

In his new position, Sander will be responsible for all areas of the business, including manufacturing, supply chain, technology, marketing and sales. He will also be in charge of ensuring that BASF's personal care business strategy continues to be successfully implemented in the future.

The business unit Personal Care Europe has been established after the acquisition of Cognis to bring together BASF's European personal care business activities and is part of BASF's Care Chemicals division.

Sander, a trained import-export merchant, has been with BASF for 25 years. He joined the company as Marketing and Product Manager in 1987, and subsequently held executive-level positions at various BASF operating divisions in both Germany and abroad.

Sander will succeed Simon Medley, who has decided to leave BASF to pursue his career outside the group.