Building Systems realigns for enhanced customer focus

SHAKOPEE, MN, July 11, 2011 – The Building Systems business of BASF’s Construction Chemicals division today announced a change in leadership, as well as several new positions that have been created to better serve customers.

Doug MacRae, previously Vice President, Business Management Building Systems, has been appointed to lead the newly established Global Business Segment Management unit of BASF Construction Chemicals in Ludwigshafen, Germany.

Succeeding MacRae as Vice President Business Management is Brian Denys. Denys has been with BASF since 1999 and most recently served as Director, Business Management for BASF’s Crop Protection unit in Canada.

Uwe Schnell, previously Building Systems’ Director of Marketing, has been appointed to the position of Director, Industry Sector Management. In this role, Schnell will provide continued leadership of established industry marketing and communications teams, as well as focus on emerging markets.  Two newly created positions will report to Schnell:

• Don Starke will assume responsibility as Manager, Business Development. In his new role, Starke will research, identify and develop new opportunities that will benefit existing customers, as well as help expand the organization’s innovative portfolio to enter new markets.
• The position of Channel Manager will soon be filled. This role will focus on maximizing the effectiveness of distribution channels and developing programs to enhance support for existing and new channel partners in all markets served by Building Systems.

Two new senior business segment manager positions have also been created to further build and enhance product line development and strategy:

• Katherine Blatz has been appointed Regional Business Segment Manager for Repair Systems and Performance Grouts. Blatz was recently voted by the Board of Directors of International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) to be inducted as a Fellow. Blatz has held various roles within BASF, most recently as Corrosion Market Segment Manager.
• Jason Pitcole will assume responsibility as the Regional Business Segment Manager for Sealants and Waterproofing. Pitcole most recently led BASF’s Performance Flooring business.  His successor as Regional Business Segment Manager for Performance Flooring will be named in the coming weeks.

About the Construction Chemicals division

BASF’s Construction Chemicals division is the leading supplier of chemical systems and formulations for the construction industry. Continuous innovation and tailor-made solutions ensure its customers are more successful. Its Admixture Systems business unit specifically helps customers in the ready-mix, precast, manufactured concrete and underground construction industries. The Construction Systems unit offers a wide range of products for sports and industrial flooring, external renders and wall insulation, expansion joints, wood preservatives as well as specialist repair mortars, tile adhesives and waterproofing membranes. The division operates production sites and sales centers in more than 50 countries and achieved sales of about €2.1 billion with approximately 6,900 employees in 2010.

The Building Systems business of BASF Construction Chemicals division manufactures innovative products under nine well-known brands: Sonneborn^®, Thoro^®, MBT Protection and Repair^®, Hydrozo^®, Selby^®, UCRETE^®, SRS Flooring, Conica and CHEMREX^®. These premier products provide joint sealant, waterproofing, grout, concrete repair, water repellent, performance flooring, surface adhesives and wall coating solutions for construction and renovation projects around the globe. For more information please visit www.buildingsystems.basf.com.

 

BASF – The Chemical Company

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 16,400 employees in North America, and had sales of $17.7 billion in 2010. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, and agricultural products to oil and gas. As a reliable partner, BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges, such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €63.9 billion in 2010 and had approximately 109,000employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com or in the Social Media Newsroom at newsroom.basf.com.

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