BASF appoints Wayne Smith as new CEO

Wayne Smith is the new chairman and chief executive officer of BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, US. He succeeds Hans Engel, who as CEO for BASF SE will relocate to the company’s global headquarters in Ludwigshafen, Germany, and assume additional responsibilities on BASF’s board of executive directors.

Smith began his career at BASF in 2004 as group vice president for the regional intermediates business unit in the United States. 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 board of executive directors of BASF SE 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.

Smith was born in Rochester, New York. He received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Syracuse University and holds a master’s degree in business administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.