Wesel, December 17, 2024 – BYK, a global specialty chemicals company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Michael Schmidt as its new CTO and Global Head of Research and Development. Dr. Michael Schmidt brings with him an impressive international career in Asia and extensive experience in research and development, in production and engineering, and in various commercial functions.
Dr. Michael Schmidt began his career at Bayer AG in 2001 after completing his PhD in polymer science. In 2021, he was awarded an advisory professorship at Donghua University in Shanghai, China. After holding various management positions in Germany and abroad, he was appointed Global Head of Innovation for the Thermoplastic Polyurethane Business Unit at Covestro in 2023.
“We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Michael Schmidt to our management team,” says Dr. Jörg Hinnerwisch, Division President of BYK. “His extensive international experience and profound understanding of global markets, innovative research and sustainable development, and digitalization make him the ideal person for this key position. We are confident that he will play an important part in driving forward our innovation strategy and further strengthening our market position.”
In his new role, Dr. Michael Schmidt will lead global research and development activities, working closely with all BYK business units and external innovation ecosystems to develop differentiating and value-adding additive solutions. In particular, he will focus on driving forward sustainable product and process innovation, digital transformation in R&D, and translating regulatory requirements into innovative products.
“I am very much looking forward to this new role and to working with the excellent teams in Germany and abroad,” says Dr. Michael Schmidt. “Together, we will work to further strengthen BYK’s global innovative strength and develop forward-looking solutions for tomorrow’s challenges.”
With the appointment of Dr. Michael Schmidt, BYK is sending a clear signal for the future and underlining its commitment to innovation, internationality, and sustainable development.
Dr. Michael Schmidt
About BYK
BYK is a leading global supplier of specialty chemicals. The company’s innovative additives and differentiated solutions optimize product and material properties as well as production and application processes. Amongst other things, BYK additives improve scratch resistance and surface gloss, the mechanical strength or flow behavior of materials, and properties such as UV- and light stability or flame retardancy. In the field of quality assurance, BYK’s measuring and testing instruments serve to effectively assess appearance and physical properties.
The company’s customers include manufacturers of coatings and printing inks, plastics, adhesives and sealants, as well as cleaners, floor coatings, and lubricants. BYK additives are also successfully used in the construction chemistry, oil and gas, and foundry industries.
BYK has a global network of subsidiaries and operates production sites in Germany (Wesel, Kempen, Schkopau, Moosburg, Geretsried), the Netherlands (Deventer, Denekamp, Nijverdal), and the UK (Widnes), in the USA (Wallingford, Chester, Columbia, Earth City, Gonzales, Louisville, Pittsford), and in China (Shanghai, Tongling).
The company is part of the ALTANA Group and employs a workforce of more than 2,500 people worldwide.