Since September 2015, Rüdiger Schmitz leads the Heraeus Chemicals Global Business Unit. Schmitz comes to Heraeus from the chemicals company BASF, where he held various management positions. Schmitz was most recently responsible for the Fuel & Lubricant Solutions Europe & Emerging Markets division. He made work experiences abroad, among others, in Singapore and Mexico.
Schmitz has a degree in business management from the University of the Bundeswehr Hamburg. Following ten years of military service, he started his business career.
He is married and has one child.