BASF Corporation named Wayne T. Smith as new chairman and CEO

BASF Corporation named Wayne T. Smith as new chairman and chief executive officer, headquartered in Florham Park, NJ. He succeeds Hans Engel, who as chief financial officer for BASF SE, will relocate to the company’s global headquarters in Ludwigshafen, Germany, and assume additional responsibilities on BASF’s board.

Smith began his career at BASF in 2004 as group vice president for the regional intermediates business unit in the US. In 2006, he was named president of the catalysts division and executive vice president, BASF Corporation. He became president of the company’s polyurethanes division in Brussels, Belgium, in 2010 and was appointed to the BASF SE board in 2012. In addition to his role as CEO and chairman of BASF Corporation, Smith will have global responsibility for the catalysts, coatings and performance materials divisions.