Markus Kamieth to Succeed Martin Brudermüller as BASF Chairman

Effective at the end of the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting on April 25, 2024, Dr. Markus Kamieth will take over as chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE. This was decided by the Supervisory Board in its meeting on Dec. 20, 2023.

Kamieth has been a member of the Board of Executive Directors since 2017. He succeeds Dr. Martin Brudermüller, who has been chairman of the Board of Executive Directors since 2018 and has been a member of the Board of Executive Directors since 2006.

“Martin Brudermüller has led BASF with courage and foresight since 2018,” said Dr. Kurt Bock, chairman of the Supervisory Board of BASF SE. “He has steered BASF through exceptionally challenging times with strong leadership and made important strategic decisions for the long-term success of the company. This includes in particular the focus on the transformation of BASF towards climate neutrality. The Supervisory Board thanks Martin Brudermüller for his outstanding achievements.

“With Markus Kamieth, we have a highly competent and experienced successor, who has achieved excellent results for BASF during his diverse professional positions in Germany, the United States and Asia,” Dr. Bock added. “He combines strategic vision with operational implementation strength and will provide new impulses to the businesses and teams at BASF.”

The Supervisory Board has appointed Anup Kothari, currently president of the Nutrition & Health division, to the Board of Executive Directors effective March 1, 2024. Kothari began his career at BASF in North America and has held various positions in the US, Germany and China in different divisions.

The Supervisory Board has appointed Dr. Katja Scharpwinkel to the Board of Executive Directors and Industrial Relations Director effective Feb. 1, 2024. She is currently president of the Europe, Middle East, Africa region. In 2010, she joined BASF following the acquisition of the former Cognis and has successfully led various businesses since that time.

Scharpwinkel succeeds Dr. Melanie Maas-Brunner, who informed the Supervisory Board that she will not extend her current contract which runs until January 31, 2024.

“The Supervisory Board regrets the wish of Melanie Maas-Brunner, which developed over a longer period of time, to pursue new professional challenges,” Bock said. “We thank her sincerely for her achievements.”

The Supervisory Board has extended the contract of Michael Heinz, member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE, until the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting in 2026. Heinz has been a member of the Board of Executive Directors since 2011. He is responsible for the Agricultural Solutions, Nutrition & Health and Care Chemicals divisions as well as the North America and South America regions.

“The Supervisory Board congratulates Katja Scharpwinkel and Anup Kothari on their appointments,” Bock noted. “They bring broad and relevant experience to the Board. The new team is highly qualified and has all the prerequisites to successfully shape the future development of BASF. The Supervisory Board is looking forward to the future cooperation.”