Wacker names new president for biosolutions business

MUNICH—Wacker Biosolutions, one of four business units within Wacker Chemie A.G., is making a change in the C-suite, as Mathias Wiedemann will take over as president for Susanne Leonhartsberger.

The succession is effective Jan. 1, 2025.

"I am delighted that we have been able to recruit Mathias Wiedemann, an outstanding colleague from our own midst, to head our biotech division," said Wacker CEO Christian Hartel. "I wish him every success in his new role."

Leonhartsberger is leaving at her own request, after leading the biosolutions division since 2020. She joined Wacker in 2001, leaving a legacy of milestones.

One of her biggest accomplishments was establishing an mRNA competence center in Halle/Saale, Germany, and subsequent pandemic-preparedness agreements with the German government.

"Susanne Leonhartsberger has taken biosolutions a decisive step forward on its growth path," Hartel said. "On behalf of the entire executive board, I would like to thank her for her commitment and dedication. We wish her all the best for the future."

Wiedemann previously led Wacker Polymers in the U.S., though he will be based in Munich as president of Wacker Biosolutions.

"Biosolutions offers exciting products and services," Wiedemann said. "I look forward to meeting this challenge. We are pursuing ambitious growth targets with a great team. Our goal is to generate more than 1 billion euros in sales in 2030."

Wiedemann joined Wacker as a project engineer in 2011. In May 2024, he was appointed CFO of Wacker Chemical Corp., based in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Wacker Biosolutions works in the food ingredient, pharmaceutical and agro-chemical spaces, "providing tailored, innovative solutions ... including pharmaceutical proteins, messenger RNA, plasmid DNA, live therapeutic products (LBPs) and bacterial-based vaccines as well as cyclodextrins and fermentative L-cysteine."

Outside of Wacker Biosolutions and Wacker Polymers, Wacker Group comprises Wacker Polysilicon and Wacker Silicones. Within those divisions are geographic subsets.