Tokyo, Japan, August 21, 2009 – Effective August 1, 2009, Mark Volmer has assumed the position of Director and President of BASF Pozzolith Ltd. in addition to his current role as Group Vice President based in Shanghai, responsible for the Construction Chemicals business in Asia Pacific.
Yukihide Takatsu has been appointed as Representative Director and, Vice President while continuing his current role as Head of Sales Division of BASF Pozzolith effective August 1, 2009. Takatsu was Director of the company before an appointment.
Takashi Haruki has resigned from his previous position as Representative Director and President of BASF Pozzolith.
Volmer was born in the Netherlands in 1964 and holds degrees in physical chemistry and business administration. After joining BASF in 1990, Volmer held several positions in marketing, sales and new business development for BASF’s Intermediates Division. In March 2000, Volmer was promoted to Director, Procurement Asia Pacific, based in Hong Kong before assuming responsibilities in 2005 as Group Vice President, where he was responsible for the Business Unit Acids & Specialty Intermediates Europe, based in Germany. He became the Head of BASF Construction Chemicals Asia Pacific in 2008.
Takatsu was born in Tokyo in 1950, and graduated College of Industrial Technology, Nihon University with a degree in industrial chemistry. He joined Nisso Master Builders Co., Ltd (NMB) in 1973, and later worked as an engineer in sales for Pozzolith Bussan. Following several managerial and director positions at Pozzolith Bussan, Takatsu became Director and Head of Sales Division at BASF Pozzolith Ltd. * in 2007.
*As of April 1, 2007, NMB Co., Ltd., Pozzolith Bussan Co., Ltd., and BASF Construction Systems Co., Ltd. merged and have become one legal entity under the name of BASF Pozzolith Ltd..
About BASF Pozzolith
BASF Pozzolith is a leading supplier of construction chemicals in Japan. It was formed by merging BASF Japan’s three affiliated companies for construction chemicals. The affiliated companies were NMB, established in 1960 and the leading company in development and manufacturing of admixture materials and building material products for concrete, Pozzolith Bussan, the top supplier in Japan of chemical admixtures for concrete, and BASF Construction Systems, which sells various building material system products. In total, BASF Pozzolith supplies a full range of construction chemicals from concrete admixture products such as superplastisizer and air-entraining water reducing agent to a variety of building construction materials such as high-performance non-shrinkage grouts, repair and protection products for concrete, waterproofing products as well as performance flooring. BASF Pozzolith has 18 production sites and 16 sales offices nationwide. Further information on BASF Pozzolith is available on the Internet at www.pozzolith.basf.co.jp .
About the Construction Chemicals division
BASF’s Construction Chemicals division is the leading supplier of chemical systems and formulations for the construction industry. Continuous innovation and tailor-made solutions ensure its customers are more successful. Its Admixture Systems strategic business unit specifically helps customers in the ready-mix, precast, manufactured concrete and underground construction industries. The Construction Systems unit offers a wide range of products for sports and industrial flooring, external renders and wall insulation, expansion joints, wood preservatives as well as specialist repair mortars, tile adhesives and waterproofing membranes. The division operates production sites and sales centers in more than 50 countries and achieved sales of €2.2 billion in 2008. Further information on BASF’s Construction Chemicals business in Asia Pacific is available on the Internet at www.ap.cc.basf.com .
About BASF
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals and oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF helps its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €62 billion in 2008 and had approximately 97,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
Media Contact
Maki Okura
BASF Japan Ltd.
Phone: + 81-3-3238-2341
Fax: + 81-3-3238-2514
E-mail: maki.okura@basf.com