New Business Unit Head Semi-Crystalline Products  
Michael Zobel defines his approach for the business at K 2010

Leverkusen – Dr. Michael Zobel has only been the new head of the Semi-Crystalline Products (SCP) business unit at specialty chemicals group LANXESS since mid of October. The K 2010 is the ideal platform for him to begin carving out how he plans to lead the business through advanced product development and closer customer relationships. He succeeds Dr. Hubert Fink, who will take over as head of LANXESS’ Basic Chemicals business unit January 1, 2011.

SCP is one of the world's leading producers of polyamides (PA) and polybutylene terephthalates (PBT), two important and commonly used engineering plastics. Their main fields of application are in the E&E industry, in the production of domestic appliances, in the construction industry, in medicine, sports and leisure, and in the automotive industry, which is the business unit's biggest customer. “We are already one of the most competitive suppliers in the world in the electronics and electrical industries. My plan is to advance our position even stronger as we work directly with manufacturers to develop pre-production products to enhance their business,” said Zobel. “At K 2010 fair, I look forward to speaking to customers in to see how we can further strengthen their business through our premium products and technologies.”

Michael Zobel was born in Marl, Germany in 1969. He was awarded a scholarship by the German National Scholarship Foundation and studied chemistry, first at Munich University, where he obtained his intermediate diploma, then in Münster, where he completed his undergraduate studies and his doctorate. In 1997, he joined the Bayer Group, where he has held various positions, including laboratory and project manager in Research & Development
(1997-1999), assistant to the Board and coordinator for Strategic Planning and M&A projects (2000-2001). He was also involved in various restructuring projects as Project & Change Manager (2002). 

In 2003, Dr. Zobel completed a one-year MBA course at Warwick Business School in England, after which he was given global responsibility for sales and marketing in the tire rubbers/rubber chemicals sector at Bayer AG. In mid-2004, following the carve-out of Bayer’s polymers business and the formation of LANXESS AG as an independent company, he was appointed global product manager and a member of the Executive Management Team of LANXESS’ Rubber Chemicals business unit.

In March 2005, Dr. Zobel was made global head of LANXESS’ Ion Exchange Resins business unit.

LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 5.06 billion in 2009 and currently around 14,400 employees in 23 countries. The company is represented at 42 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals.

Leverkusen, 	October 27, 2010
rei		(2010-00178e)

Forward-Looking Statements.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by LANXESS AG management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

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