Dr. Axel C. Heitmann was born on October 2, 1959 in Hamburg, Germany. He studied chemistry at Hamburg University and the Uni-versity of Southampton, United Kingdom, obtaining a science doctorate in 1988. He joined Bayer in 1989 where he entered the post-graduate trainee pro¬gram. Between 1989 and 1991, he held various positions in the Central Research Division, and in the Applications Development and Production departments.

Following two years as a plant manager, Heitmann transferred to Bayer plc in the United Kingdom as Manager of the Rubber Business Group's Bromsgrove site. In 1996, he was appointed Head of Production and Technology at PolymerLatex, the then newly formed joint venture between Bayer AG and Degussa AG. From March 1999 to January 31, 2002, he was Managing Director of the Bayer subsidiary Wolff Walsrode. He was then appointed Head of the Rubber Business Group at Bayer AG. On 1, July 2002, he became a member of the Executive Committee of Bayer Polymers, and in this capacity was responsible for Bayer Polymers APAC’s activities in Shanghai from 2002 until the middle of 2004.

On September 16, 2004, Heitmann was appointed Chairman of the Board of Management of LANXESS AG.

Heitmann has been a member of the German Chemical Industry Association’s Presidential Council since September 22, 2006.

Further external offices held by Heitmann include:

• Member of the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA)
• Member of the Board of Trustees of Konvent für Deutschland e. V.
• Member of the Board of Trustees of the North Rhine-Westphalia chapter of Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft
• Member of the Advisory Board of Goethe-Institut e. V.
• Chairman of the Board of Trustees of KölnMusik e. V.

Heitmann was made an honorary citizen of the town of Wuxi in China in April 2006.

Other distinctions:

• January 2007: Named “Entrepreneur of the Year 2006” by the Springer business publications “€uro” and “€uro am Sonntag”
• November 2009: The jury of the Econ Awards Unternehmenskommunikation (Corporate Communications) honored Heitmann as “Personality of the Year”.

Heitmann is married and has two children.