In order to strengthen its organisation in Asia-Pacific, BASF (Ludwigshafen / Germany; www.basf.com) has announced two new regional appointments. On 1 April, Albert Heuser, current president of Market & Business Development Asia Pacific, will take over as head of the group’s Market & Business Development and Operations in Greater China, while also assuming responsibility for all functional units in Asia Pacific. Heuser will be based in Shanghai / China, underlining the strategic importance of this particular market to BASF. The German group said Greater China today constitutes its third-largest market worldwide, generating sales of EUR 6.7 bn in 2012 and home to more than 8,400 company employees.

One month later, on 1 May, Gops Pillay will be placed in charge of all regional business units in Asia Pacific as well as all countries outside of China. Pillay currently serves as senior vice president Dispersions & Pigments Asia Pacific. In his new role, as President South East Asia, ASEAN and Australia / New Zealand, he will be based in Hong Kong.

Both men will report to Martin Brudermüller, vice chairman of BASF’s board of directors and responsible for the Asia Pacific region. Commenting on Heuser’s appointment, Brudermüller said, “Moving one of our three regional top management positions to Shanghai with direct responsibility for our activities in China will enable us to keep our growth momentum.”