• Wacker Chemie will have Christian Hartel as the company’s new president and CEO taking over the company from Rudolf Staudigl
  • Hartel will assume the reins of the company after Staudigl retires at the end of May 12, 2021 when the company will have its next Annual Shareholders’ Meeting
  • Hartel’s position on the executive board will be taken over by Angela Wörl as personnel director

Wacker Chemie AG, the German chemicals company producing polysilicon for the solar sector among other products, has announced Christian Hartel to take over from Rudolf Staudigl as the group’s new president and CEO when the latter retires at the end of the next Annual Shareholders’ Meeting scheduled for May 12, 2021.

While the succession is still several months away, the board believes this decision will ensure long-term continuity in the management of the company.

Christian Hartel, 49, has been an executive board member of the group since November 2015, but has been with the company since 2003. The various positions he has held here include head of Raw Materials Procurement and president of Wacker Silicones.

“Wacker Chemie AG is extremely well placed and has promising growth potential. Under my leadership, the Company will continue on its successful strategic path,” said Hartel.

Replacing him on the Executive Board will be Angela Wörl as personnel director. She is currently the head of Wacker’s Human Resources Corporate department.

A Ph.D. in chemistry, Staudigl joined Wacker Siltronic AG in 1983 and became a member of the group’s Executive Board in 1993. Since May 2008, he has been leading Wacker as its president and CEO. The board acknowledged and thanked Staudigl for the company’s successful expansion in various geographies.

“Over a period of more than 25 years, Rudolf Staudigl has been decisive in shaping the growth and development of the Wacker Group, initially as an Executive Board member and then as President & CEO,” said Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Peter-Alexander Wacker. “The Company has much to thank Rudolf Staudigl for, and what he has achieved throughout his career is worthy of our greatest recognition and respect.”

Recently, Wacker secured a €290 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to finance its research and development efforts as part of the group’s shift to become a climate neutral chemicals organization. The 5-year loan is backed by a guarantee from the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the main pillar of the Investment Plan for Europe, said EIB.