Business News
BASF names Climate Protection Officer
Friday 22. February 2008 - Dr. Ulrich von Deessen (51) has been named the first Climate Protection Officer of BASF. As of May 1, 2008, he will also become the head of the global Competence Center Environment, Health and Safety as the successor of Ernst Schwanhold (59). Schwanhold will take over projects within BASF and will retire as of December 31, 2008.
The Climate Protection Officer will be a member of the Sustainability Council and will coordinate all of BASF activities in this area worldwide. This reflects the strategic importance of climate protection for the company.
Von Deessen has been chief of staff to the Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF since 2003. He joined BASF as a researcher in 1987 after receiving his doctorate in chemistry from the University of Hamburg. After various positions in production, he became head of Research for Fine Chemicals in 1996. He moved to BASF Antwerp in 1998 where he was responsible for production. In 2001, he became head of Research for Fine Chemicals and Biocatalysts.
Schwanhold has been with BASF since January 2004 and since March 2004 head of the Competence Center Environment, Health and Safety.
Role of the Climate Protection Officer
The Climate Protection Officer will be a member of the Sustainability Council and will coordinate all of BASF activities in this area worldwide. This includes issues such as greenhouse gas emissions from production and disposal as well as BASFs long-term positioning on climate protection taking into consideration site-specific issues.