OREANDA-NEWS. BASF is strengthening its regional organization in Asia Pacific and is appointing a new President to lead its Nutrition & Health division.

Effective April 1, 2013, Dr. Albert Heuser, President Market & Business Development Asia Pacific, will assume the responsibility for BASF’s Market & Business Development and Operations in Greater China as well as for all functional units in Asia Pacific. As President Greater China and Functions Asia Pacific, he will be based in Shanghai, China. This organizational change underlines the strategic importance of the Chinese market for BASF. Already today, Greater China is BASF’s third-largest market worldwide with sales of €6.7 billion in 2012 and more than 8,400 employees.

Effective May 1, 2013, Gops Pillay, Senior Vice President Dispersions & Pigments Asia Pacific, will assume the responsibility for all regional business units in Asia Pacific as well as for all countries in Asia Pacific outside of China. As President South & East Asia, ASEAN, and Australia/New Zealand, he will be based in Hong Kong. This new set-up will reduce organizational complexity as well as increase market and customer focus in the Asia Pacific markets.

Heuser and Pillay will both report to Dr. Martin Brudermuller, Vice Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE and responsible for Asia Pacific.

On May 1, 2013, Saori Dubourg, President Regional Functions and Country Management Asia Pacific, will join the Nutrition & Health division, based in Lampertheim, Germany. Effective June 1, 2013, she will assume the responsibility for the division. Walter Dissinger, President Nutrition & Health, will leave the company at his own request effective May 31, 2013.