BASF names Wayne Smith chairman and CEO

Wayne Smith was named Chairmand an CEO of BASF today.
Wayne Smith was named Chairmand an CEO of BASF today. | BASF
BASF Corp. named Wayne Smith as chairman and CEO Friday, May 1, succeeding Hans Engel.

Smith, 55, has been president of the company’s Polyurethanes division in Brussels since 2012; he was appointed to the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE in 2012. In his new role, he also will have worldwide responsibility for the Catalysts, Coatings and Performance Materials divisions.

Smith joined BASF in 2004 as group vice president for the Regional Intermediates Business Unit in the U.S. In 2006, he was named president of the Catalysts division and executive vice president of BASF Corp.

Smith was born in Rochester, New York, and holds a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Syracuse University and a master's degree in business administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is married with two children.

Engel will relocate to the company’s global headquarters in Ludwigshafen, Germany, where he will serve as CFO for BASF SE and assume additional board responsibilities.