Change of leadership in LANXESS

The Supervisory Board of LANXESS AG has resolved at its meeting this week to end, by mutual agreement, the appointment of Axel C. Heitmann as Member and Chairman of the Board of Management of LANXESS AG, effective the end of February 28, 2014.  

The Supervisory Board has appointed as his successor Matthias Zachert, former Chief Financial Officer of LANXESS and currently Chief Financial Officer at Merck KGaA, effective not later than May 15, 2014.  

Until Mr. Zachert joins the Board of Management, LANXESS Chief Financial Officer Bernhard Duettmann will perform the responsibilities of the previous Chairman of the Board of Management.  

Mr. Heitmann has played a key role in shaping the company since its creation through consistent restructuring and strategic portfolio measures. He has formed LANXESS into a leading global specialty chemicals company, achieving many noticeable successes, according to Rolf Stomberg, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of LANXESS AG.   

LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 9.1 billion in 2012 and roughly 17,500 employees in 31 countries. The company is currently represented at 52 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals. LANXESS is a member of the leading sustainability indices Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) World and FTSE4Good as well as the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI).