BASF announces organizational changes
- Strengthening the Asia Pacific organization: Albert Heuser named President Greater China and Functions Asia Pacific; Gops Pillay named President South & East Asia, ASEAN, and Australia/New Zealand
- Saori Dubourg appointed President of the Nutrition & Health division
Ludwigshafen, Germany/Hong Kong, China – March 12, 2013 – BASF is strengthening its regional organization in Asia Pacific and is appointing a new President to lead its Nutrition & Health division.
Strengthening the Asia Pacific organization
Effective April 1, 2013, Dr. Albert Heuser, President Market & Business Development Asia Pacific, will assume the responsibility for BASF’s Market & Business Development and Operations in Greater China as well as for all functional units in Asia Pacific. As President Greater China and Functions Asia Pacific, he will be based in Shanghai, China. This organizational change underlines the strategic importance of the Chinese market for BASF. Already today, Greater China is BASF’s third-largest market worldwide with sales of €6.7 billion in 2012 and more than 8,400 employees.
Effective May 1, 2013, Gops Pillay, Senior Vice President Dispersions & Pigments Asia Pacific, will assume the responsibility for all regional business units in Asia Pacific as well as for all countries in Asia Pacific outside of China. As President South & East Asia, ASEAN, and Australia/New Zealand, he will be based in Hong Kong. This new set-up will reduce organizational complexity as well as increase market and customer focus in the Asia Pacific markets.
Heuser and Pillay will both report to Dr. Martin Brudermüller, Vice Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE and responsible for Asia Pacific.
“With these changes, we are improving the efficiency of our Asia Pacific organization to better capture the opportunities in this dynamic region,” said Brudermüller. “China accounts for approximately 50 percent of our Asia Pacific business, and the achievements of the team during the past years have been remarkable. Moving one of our three regional top management positions to Shanghai with direct responsibility for our activities in China will enable us to keep our growth momentum.”
Newly appointed President for the Nutrition & Health division
On May 1, 2013, Saori Dubourg, President Regional Functions and Country Management Asia Pacific, will join the Nutrition & Health division, based in Lampertheim, Germany. Effective June 1, 2013, she will assume the responsibility for the division. Walter Dissinger, President Nutrition & Health, will leave the company at his own request effective May 31, 2013.
About BASF
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF posted sales of €78.7 billion in 2012 and had more than 113,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
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