Wacker names Henkel exec Kirsten to Supervisory Board

MUNICH—After 17 years of service on the executive board at Wacker Chemie A.G., Auguste Willems will leave the company at the end of April.

Christian Kirsten, 51, will succeed Willems, an appointment made by the Wacker Supervisory Board March 2.

Kirsten, who comes from Henkel where he served as a senior vice president, will take office May 1. His contract on the board is for three years, Wacker said.

"As a member of the Executive Board for more than 17 years, Auguste Willems helped shape the development of the Wacker Group in various areas of responsibility," said Peter Alexander, chairman of the Supervisory Board at Wacker.

He thanked Willems for his service to the company.

"With his way of working, which is strongly focused on customers and markets, he has made a significant contribution to the company's operational growth and significantly strengthened the company's customer orientation," Alexander said. "This achievement deserves our great respect."

Willems began his career at Henkel, a consumer goods and adhesives manufacturer, working in marketing and sales.

Willems also worked at Cognis, and was a member of their corporate executive committee.

He was appointed to the Wacker position in January 2006.

Kirsten began his career at Henkel, working in central research. After working in management consulting and in the automotive industry between 2000 and 2006, Kirsten returned to Henkel as head of global raw material purchasing.