Wolfgang Schmitz was born in Langenfeld, Germany, on June 20, 1953. After training in business administration, he began his career with Bayer AG in 1975.

He was posted abroad to São Paulo, Brazil, from 1981 to 1984. Following his return, Schmitz served as Marketing Manager for Colorant Intermediates. In 1991 he transferred to the former Coatings Raw Materials Business Group, where he was Market Segment Manager for aromatic isocyanates. Wolfgang Schmitz was Head of Marketing for iron oxides from 1994 to 1998 before assuming leadership of the Fine Chemicals business unit. He became Head of Marketing in the Basic Chemicals business unit in 2001. Schmitz assumed leadership of the Inorganic Pigments business unit of LANXESS on July 1, 2003.

Since July 15, 2007, Wolfgang Schmitz is Managing Director of the LANXESS subsidiary Saltigo GmbH.

Wolfgang Schmitz is married and has three children.

Langenfeld, February 2008