21
October
2021
|
10:05
Europe/Amsterdam

Karsten Danielmeier appointed President of the GDCh

Change of leadership at internationally renowned learned society

Summary

Katharina Uebele is the first young chemist to be elected to the position of Vice President

Dr. Karsten Danielmeier, currently head of growth businesses in the Coatings and Adhesives Business Entity at Covestro, will become president of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) on January 1, 2022. With around 30,000 members, the society is one of the largest chemical scientific associations in the world. Danielmeier was elected as future president by the incumbent GDCh board at the board meeting on August 30, 2021. He will succeed Professor Dr. Peter R. Schreiner, who held this position for two years by turn and has now been elected as one of the Vice Presidents. The presidium is completed by GDCh board member and economic chemist Katharina Uebele. This is the first time that a young chemist has been elected as Vice President. Dr. Timo Fleßner, Bayer AG, was confirmed in his position as treasurer.

The new committee has a lot of plans for the next term of office. In particular, it wants to breathe even more life into the three guiding principles of the society with a focus on digitization, diversity and internationalization, and thus also continue the course it has taken in recent years to drive forward the modernization of the GDCh. "We can be truly proud of what the GDCh has achieved and what it represents, but we also want to support the changes in society and science and thus play an active role in shaping the future of the GDCh," Danielmeier emphasizes.

Karsten Danielmeier, born in Werl in 1967, studied at the University of Bonn where he received his doctorate in synthetic organic chemistry under Professor Dr. Eberhard Steckhan in 1995. The following year, he joined Bayer AG where he was active in numerous positions of increasing responsibility in raw materials research for coatings and adhesives in Germany and the United States. Most recently, he headed research for the Functional Films division in Leverkusen and was Senior Vice President for Research and Development in the Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties segment at Covestro from 2015 to 2021.

Danielmeier has been a member of the GDCh board since July 2020 and had previously served for several years on the scientific planning committee of the Coatings Chemistry division.

Boilerplate

About the German Chemical Society (GDCh):

With around 30,000 members, the German Chemical Society is one of the largest chemical scientific societies in the world. It promotes scientific work, research and education as well as the exchange and dissemination of new scientific findings. The GDCh supports the creation of networks, transdisciplinary and international cooperation, and ongoing education and training in schools, universities, and professional settings. The GDCh has 27 divisions as well as 60 local sections.

About Covestro:

With 2020 sales of EUR 10.7 billion, Covestro is among the world’s leading polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative, sustainable solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. In doing so, Covestro is fully committed to the circular economy. The main industries served are the automotive and transportation industries, construction, furniture and wood processing, as well as electrical, electronics, and household appliances industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics, health and the chemical industry itself. At the end of 2020, Covestro has 33 production sites worldwide and employs approximately 16,500 people (calculated as full-time equivalents).

Forward-looking statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.