BASF
Mary Kurian moves to top of petrochemicals division / Executive board departments to be restructured
— By Plasteurope.com staff —
 Mary Kurian is to be responsible for petrochemicals at BASF in future (Photo: BASF) |
In May 2026, BASF’s (Ludwigshafen, Germany; www.basf.com) petrochemicals business is set to get a new head. Materials scientist Mary Kurian is expected to take over board division V, which in future is to comprise the Petrochemicals (cracker products), Intermediates (including butanediol, polyalcohols, and acids), Nutrition & Health, and Care Chemicals segments.
The Petrochemicals and Intermediates businesses are currently part of board division IV under Stephan Kohtrade. These areas are to be carved out and assigned to division V. Kohtrade is to remain CTO, continuing to oversee Monomers and Plastics, as well as Research, China, and BASF’s major Asian projects.
Related: BASF plans job cuts for Antwerp
Kurian previously held various leadership roles at Air Products in the US before joining BASF in 2020. Since 2023, she has headed BASF’s Care Chemicals division from Ludwigshafen.
Her predecessor Michael Heinz – currently responsible for Agricultural Solutions, Nutrition & Health, Care Chemicals, and South America – is set to retire at the end of April 2026. His portfolio is to be divided, and in preparation for the planned spin-off of the agricultural business, a seventh board division will be created under Livio Tedeschi.
The Petrochemicals and Intermediates businesses are currently part of board division IV under Stephan Kohtrade. These areas are to be carved out and assigned to division V. Kohtrade is to remain CTO, continuing to oversee Monomers and Plastics, as well as Research, China, and BASF’s major Asian projects.
Related: BASF plans job cuts for Antwerp
Kurian previously held various leadership roles at Air Products in the US before joining BASF in 2020. Since 2023, she has headed BASF’s Care Chemicals division from Ludwigshafen.
Her predecessor Michael Heinz – currently responsible for Agricultural Solutions, Nutrition & Health, Care Chemicals, and South America – is set to retire at the end of April 2026. His portfolio is to be divided, and in preparation for the planned spin-off of the agricultural business, a seventh board division will be created under Livio Tedeschi.
30.10.2025 Plasteurope.com [259011-0]
Published on 30.10.2025
German version of this article...