BASF: Markus Kamieth new Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors

Dr. Markus Kamieth, the member of the Board of Executive Directors currently responsible for BASF’s Asia business, will take over the position of Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the world’s largest chemical company. BASF announced that Kamieth will replace the current Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, Martin Brudermüller, at the end of April.

The 53-year-old Kamieth was regarded as the favorite for the position alongside the head of technology Melanie Maas-Brunner. With a doctorate in chemistry, he has been with BASF since 1999. After less than two years at the company, he joined the staff of a member of the Board of Executive Directors and has been a member of the Board of Executive Directors himself since 2017.

The previous Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, Martin Brudermüller, had held this position since 2018. He will leave BASF after the Annual General Meeting in April and then take over as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Mercedes-Benz.

Personnel changes at BASF

Head of Technology Melanie Maas-Brunner, who is also Labor Director and Site Manager for the main plant in Ludwigshafen, is leaving the company after 26 years. According to BASF, she did not wish to extend her contract, which runs until the end of January 2024. Long-time BASF manager Saori Dubourg had already left the company in February.

“The Supervisory Board regrets Melanie Maas-Brunner’s wish, which has matured over a longer period of time, to devote herself to new professional challenges,” said Supervisory Board Chairman Kurt Bock. He emphasized that Markus Kamieth had achieved “outstanding results” during his professional stations in Germany, the USA and Asia.