FLORHAM PARK, NJ - Wayne T. Smith is the new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BASF Corp., Florham Park, NJ, effective May 1, 2015. He succeeds Hans Engel, who as Chief Financial Officer for BASF SE, will relocate to the company's global headquarters in Ludwigshafen, Germany, and assume additional responsibilities on BASF's Board of Executive Directors.

Smith began his career at BASF in 2004 as Group Vice President for the Regional Intermediates Business Unit in the United States. In 2006, he was named President of the Catalysts division and Executive Vice President, BASF Corp. He became President of the company's Polyurethanes division in Brussels, Belgium, in 2010 and was appointed to the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE in 2012. In addition to his role as CEO and Chairman of BASF Corp., Smith will have global responsibility for the Catalysts, Coatings and Performance Materials divisions.