After more than 20 years in media relations and communications at PlasticsEurope Deutschland (Frankfurt; www.plasticseurope.de) and its predecessor Verband Kunststofferzeugende Industrie (VKE), Michael Herrmann is leaving the organisation to pursue new opportunities.

Herrmann joined VKE in 1997 as press spokesman and in 2012 was appointed managing director of the information and communications department of the renamed German plastics producers association with responsibility for social media and environmental issues as well as sports sponsoring. In addition, he supported the European Youth Debating Competition (EYDC).

Rüdinger Baunemann, managing director of PlasticsEurope Deutschland, will be acting head of the department until a successor to Herrmann is appointed.