With immediate effect, European polymer producers association PlasticsEurope’s (Brussels / Belgium; www.plasticseurope.org) new president is Covestro CEO Markus Steilemann. He takes over the role from Javier Constante (see Plasteurope.com of 23.11.2018), who recently became president of Dow Latin America.

Steilemann has been Covestro’s CEO since June 2018 (see Plasteurope.com of 13.04.2018). He joined Bayer in 1999, Bayer MaterialScience (the predecessor of Covestro) in 2004 and from 2008 held various management positions in the Polycarbonates division. From 2013 to 2015, he led the unit’s global headquarters in China. Steilemann joined the Covestro management board in Germany in 2015 and was responsible for innovation. The following year he took over as head of Polyurethanes (see Plasteurope.com of 26.01.2016), then became chief commercial officer in 2017.

Steilemann was also recently elected as VP of German chemical industry association Verband der Chemischen Industrie (VCI). In addition, he is a member of the board of the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) and chairman of the European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem).

The Covestro CEO noted that Constante was instrumental in PlasticsEurope’s reorganisation and accelerating members’ efforts in progressing circularity. Regarding his new position, Steilemann said, “In light of current global challenges, the plastics industry is absolutely crucial to build a truly sustainable future and make the circular economy the new global guiding principle.”