Hanko heads for Degussa
Bayer, has joined Degussa as head of the company's exclusive
synthesis business line, part of Degussa's Exclusive Synthesis
& Catalysts business unit.
Hanko has worked at Bayer since 1996, where he was in charge of chemical research worldwide. He left the company in May, shortly after the company spun out its chemicals activities into a new company called Lanxess.
Bayer took the decision to spin the unit after a difficult period in which it suffered - along with the wider European chemicals sector - from unfavourable exchange rates with the US and escalating raw materials costs as the price of oil increased.
"Dr Hanko is a proven expert in the pharmaceuticals area," said Dr Peter Nagler, head of the business unit at Degussa. "His broad experience in the market makes him an ideal fit for our international team."
The Exclusive Synthesis & Catalysts business unit focuses on the development of custom synthesis and catalysts, with a particular focus on the pharmaceutical market. It has a global network of 13 sites and sales of around €400 million a year.
