Christian Kullmann to Succeed Klaus Engel as Evonik Chairman

Klaus Engel, chairman of Evonik’s Executive Board,  is to hand over to his designated successor Christian Kullmann. Engel will be leaving the company at the end of the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting on May 23, 2017. Kullmann will then take over as chairman.
 
“We thank Mr. Engel for his service to the company and for his outstanding achievements,” said Werner Müller, chairman of the Supervisory Board. “Mr. Engel has transformed Evonik from a conglomerate to a company focused on chemicals, successfully listed it on the stock market, and developed it into a leading specialty chemicals company with outstanding prospects.”
 
Müller specifically mentioned the acquisition of the Air Products specialty additives business, which Engel achieved in May 2016. Engel was originally appointed to the Board of Management of what was then Degussa in 2007, becoming chairman in 2009.
 
He has worked closely with Christian Kullmann for many years.
 
“Having spent more than three decades in fascinating managerial roles in the chemical industry, Evonik’s 10th anniversary seems to me to be an appropriate time to ensure a smooth transition and hand over a well-tilled field to my successor,” said Engel. “The goal of transforming Evonik into a listed, world-leading specialty chemicals group has been achieved.”
 
Kullmann has worked for the company for 14 years and was appointed deputy chairman of the Executive Board in May 2016.
 
Schwager will be joining Evonik on Sept. 1 as the new deputy chairman of the Executive Board, with responsibility for chemicals and innovation. Schwager is a chemist and a member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF, which he will be leaving in May.
 
COO Ralph Sven Kaufmann will be leaving the company by mutual and amicable agreement on June 30, 2017. The position of COO on the Executive Board will not be filled.