The Supervisory Board of Covestro unanimously appointed Thorsten Dreier, Ph.D., as Covestro's new chief technology officer (CTO). Dreier will take over on July 1, 2023, from Klaus Schäfer, Ph.D., who most recently extended his expiring contract by six months to ensure personnel stability for Covestro during a challenging period in the market due to the ongoing energy crisis in Europe.

Dreier is currently global head of the Coatings & Adhesives business unit. He began his career in 2002 as a laboratory manager in the Bayer Group and subsequently held various management positions at Bayer, Bayer MaterialScience, and Bayer Technology Services. With the spin-off of Covestro, Dreier became global head of Production & Technology in the Coatings, Adhesives & Specialties business unit and later of the Specialty Films and Thermoplastic Polyurethanes business units.

In his new role, Dreier will assume responsibility for the process technology, engineering, group health, safety and environment, and group procurement corporate functions. In the coming months, he will work with Schäfer to prepare for the smooth transition to his new position and familiarize himself with all the tasks of his future area of responsibility.

“Dr. Thorsten Dreier has demonstrated his technological expertise, customer focus, market orientation and management qualities in our company over the last 20 years, and with great success. He has played a decisive role in shaping Covestro's development,” said Richard Pott, Ph.D., chairman of Covestro's supervisory board. “He is therefore the ideal successor as chief technology officer and will continue to successfully drive Covestro's transformation towards a circular economy and to achieving climate neutrality.” 

“I am grateful for the trust placed in me. I am looking very much forward to working with Covestro employees and the other members of the Board of Management, give new impetus to the transformation of our company and to fulfill our aspired position as a pioneer in the chemical industry in decisively driving forward the circular economy,” said Dreier.

For more information, visit: www.covestro.com.