#Board of the VCW 2024–2026

Dr. Rolf Albach (Chair), Covestro AG, Leverkusen
Dr. Melanie Walther (Deputy Chair), University of Oldenburg
Oliver Erdenberger, M.A., Merck KGaA, Darmstadt
Dr. Wolfgang Hübinger, formerly BASF SE, Ludwigshafen
Dr. Theresa Ludwig, SCHOTT AG, Landshut
Dr. Willis Muganda, BASF SE, Ludwigshafen
Dr. Julian Vogel, Rentschler Biopharma SE, Laupheim
Prof. Dr. Stephan von Delft, University of Münster

JuWiChem representative
Niclas Buschner, Infra-Zeitz Servicegesellschaft MbH, Elsteraue

until 30.06.2024
Prof. Dr. Stephan Haubold, Fresenius University of Applied Sciences, Idstein

until 24.03.2025
Elisabeth Meints, Hobum Oleochemicals, Hamburg

The current term of office of the Division Board ends on 31 December 2026, and you as VCW members are invited to nominate candidates for the Board election who

• have declared their willingness to stand as candidates,
• are members of the Division and
• have the support of ten Division members.

In accordance with the Division's bylaws, the Board consists of a maximum of ten members
(1x Chair, 1x Deputy Chair, max. 8x other members), each elected for a term of three years. One re-election is possible.

After two terms of office, Dr. Rolf Albach, Oliver Erdenberger, Dr. Wolfgang Hübinger, Dr. Willis Muganda and Dr. Melanie Walther are no longer eligible to stand for a further term. Unfortunately, Dr. Theresa Ludwig is not available for a further term of office. Dr. Julian Vogel and Prof. Dr. Stephan von Delft have indicated their willingness to stand for re-election. We would like to take this opportunity to thank them all for their many years of successful commitment to the Division and the GDCh as a whole.

For the maximum of ten Board positions up for election, the current Board is putting forward the following ten candidates, in addition to your nominations:

If no written proposals to nominate additional candidates are received by the GDCh Office (for the attention of Maike Fries; m.fries@gdch.de) by and including 23 October 2026, the election will be held as an Online election from 9 November 2026, with the candidates listed above.

• Prof. Dr. Anna Hehn, University of Kiel
• Prof. Dr. Manuel van Gemmeren, University of Kiel
• Dr. Dirk Hollmann, University of Rostock
• Prof. Dr. Jens Leker, University of Münster
• Prof. Dr. Stephan von Delft, University of Münster
• Prof. Dr. Jörg Adams, Clausthal University of Technology
• Prof. Dr. Thomas J. J. Müller, HHU Düsseldorf
• Dr. Adam W. Franz, HHU Düsseldorf
• Prof. Dr. Stephan Haubold, Fresenius University of Applied Sciences, Idstein
• Prof. Dr. Jens Hartung, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau
• Prof. Dr. Joachim Wegener, University of Regensburg
• Prof. Dr. Christian Weckenborg, University of Regensburg
• Prof. Dr. Michael Hiete, University of Ulm
• Prof. Dr. Stefan Seeger, University of Zurich, Switzerland

Dr. Hervé Baratte is a self-employed, independent consultant at "Groth Strategy Innovation".

Innovation Networks: Adidas, Airbus, Air Liquide, BASF, BMW, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Bosch, Cr.Hansen, Evonik Industries, DHL, DSM, GE, Henkel, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, 3M, Merck, Novozymes, Philips, Sanofi, Shell, Siemens, Solvay, Sulzer ...

Innovation partnering: between “Elephants” & “Mouse” SMEs, Start-ups

Professional Career
1983: Thomson CSF Research, France
1985: IBM Research, USA
1990: IBM Manufacturing, Germany.
1993: Cap Gemini Vice President
2000: Accenture Associate Partner
2003: Independent Consultant

1995: Professor Innovation Strategy MBA www.cdi.fr
Author: 30 publications, scientific and business

• Dr. Hervé Baratte, Linking People and Experience

• Dr. Ulrich Küsthardt, Creanova, Frankfurt

• Dr. Thorsten Löhl, Borealis Polyolefine, Linz/AT

• Dr. Carsten Schaffer, Siegfried Holding AG, Zofingen/CH

• Dr. Kevin Stella, Robert Bosch GmbH, Schwieberdingen

• Chem. Ing. Jan-Domenic Urbas, Hobum Oleochemicals GmbH