Press release
Corporate Press
June 25, 2015

Change on the Executive Board of Evonik Industries AG

  • Patrik Wohlhauser to leave the company on June 30, 2015
  • Supervisory Board appoints Dr. Ralph Sven Kaufmann as new Chief Operating Officer


At its meeting on June 25, 2015, the Supervisory Board of Evonik Industries AG resolved unanimously to end the term of office of Patrik Wohlhauser (51) as a member of the Executive Board and Chief Operating Officer (COO). Mr. Wohlhauser will leave the company on June 30, 2015. At the same time, Dr. Ralph Sven Kaufmann (49) was appointed to the Executive Board of Evonik Industries AG as the company's new COO. He will take up his post on July 1, 2015.

Dr. Werner Müller, Chairman of Evonik's Supervisory Board, commented: "Mr. Wohlhauser is leaving the company on highly amicable terms. Evonik has much to thank him for. Mr. Wohlhauser played a key role in shaping our chemicals operations over many years and most recently contributed to the successful bundling of our business in the segment structure. On behalf of the Supervisory Board, I would like to thank Mr. Wohlhauser most sincerely for that. Dr. Kaufmann is a highly qualified successor who has known the company for many years as he has worked as consultant on a wide range of projects."

Klaus Engel, Chairman of the Evonik’s Executive Board, said:
"We are losing Patrik Wohlhauser, a competent member of the Executive Board and valued colleague with whom we have always worked very well. I look forward to working with Dr. Kaufmann, who has already supported us effectively in the past with his expertise and experience."

Patrik Wohlhauser has been a member of the Executive Board of Evonik Industries AG since April 1, 2011 and took on responsibility for the chemical operations as Chief Operating Officer on January 1, 2014.

Dr. Ralph Sven Kaufmann has been a managing partner of SCOPEIN Management Consultants in Düsseldorf (Germany) since 2001. In this period he has advised many companies in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, including Evonik, on optimizing their operational efficiency and business portfolio. Dr. Kaufmann trained in banking and studied economics and business administration at the universities of Cologne and New York. He obtained his doctorate from the University of Cologne in 1995. He started his career in Corporate Controlling at Henkel KGaA and subsequently worked as a project manager at the strategic management consultancy Droege & Comp. GmbH. Dr. Kaufmann is married and has three children.

Company information

Evonik, the creative industrial group from Germany, is one of the world leaders
in specialty chemicals. Profitable growth and a sustained increase in the value of the company form the heart of Evonik’s corporate strategy. Its activities focus on the key megatrends health, nutrition, resource efficiency and globalization. Evonik benefits specifically from its innovative prowess and integrated technology platforms.

Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In fiscal 2014 more than 33,000 employees generated sales of around €12.9 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of about €1.9 billion.

Disclaimer

In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this press release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.