Patrick Barthels, Managing Director of OQEMA Contract and head of the Organics department in the OQEMA Group since 2016, is to become the chairman of OQEMA AG. He will take over from Heinrich Eckmann on 1 January 2020. In contrast to the previous structure of the board of management which involved two serving co-CEOs, Patrick Barthels will act as a conventional CSO in the new setup, dealing especially with all issues relating to sales and purchases and the corresponding strategic focuses. The national subsidiaries and the European business shared functions (Organics, Inorganics, KAM and Specialities) will report to him. In parallel, he will remain managing director of OQEMA Contract in an advisory role. 

Sabine Moritz, formerly CFO of OQEMA AG, will seek a new challenge at the end of her contract. A new CFO with considerable expertise in finance and strategy, focus on operations and profitability, IT and digital issues will begin on 1 April 2020. Peter Overlack will take on this role in the interim period: ‘OQEMA is repositioning itself for the future. With the two new board members for finance and sales, we are continuing on a growth course and are preparing for the future. We would like to express our deep gratitude to the two departing board members, Heinrich Eickmann and Sabine Moritz, for their efforts and time they devoted to this company, and for their empathy and cooperation. We wish them all the best.’