Experience
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CEO & Co-Founder
Prime Lithium AG, Hamburg, Germany
2023 – PresentThe Prime Lithium AG intends to establish the resource-efficient and sustainable production of high-purity lithium derivatives (battery grade) for electric vehicles on an industrial scale in Germany.
Initially, the chemical process (soda leach) for the production of high-purity lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM) will be revised and further developed at Prime Lithium's R&D Centre Stade in the Stade Chemical Park, Germany. We then intend to set up a pilot plant for further process development and scaling up the high-tech Lithium process.
These are the technical prerequisites to build a word-scale plant with a total of three production lines of each 20,000 tons annual capacity of lithium hydroxide (LHM). A plot of 22,000 m2 has already been reserved at the Chemical Park Stade Germany.
We want to supply the automotive industry with sustainably produced lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM) of the highest purity for maximum battery performance - Made in Europe.
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Member of the Advisory Board
DELO Industrie Klebstoffe GmbH & Co. KGaA, Windach, Bayern, Germany
2019 – Present -
Member of the Board of Directors
Sulzer AG, Switzerland
2016 – 2018Member of the Audit Committee
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Senior Advisor
H.I.G. Capital, London, United Kingdom
2016 – Present -
Member of the Board of Directors
A Family Holding, Germany
2015 – Present -
Senior Advisor to Chemical Industry
and Private Equity firms2014 – Present
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CEO – Chairman of the Board of Management
LANXESS AG, Germany
2004 – 2014 (10 years)LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of 8.3 billion euros and roughly 17,300 employees in 30 countries. The company operates more than 50 production sites worldwide. Its business activities are focused on the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals (2013).
Following the spin-off from Bayer in 2005, LANXESS underwent a comprehensive transformation program consisting of successful divestments, targeted restructuring and alignment initiatives. The company is known for its strong focus on innovation and emerging markets. The "price before volume" - approach supported its strong pricing power. LANXESS achieved ambitious growth through investments and acquisitions. The performance culture it embraced transformed the underperforming spin-off from inception into a successful enterprise, which entered the DAX 30 index of the largest German companies trading on the Frankfurt stock exchange seven years after formation of LANXESS.
The share price, which debuted at 15 euros in the initial public offering in 2005, rose to a high of 66 euros at the time the company joined the DAX 30 in 2012.
After leading LANXESS for 10 years, Dr. Heitmann stepped down from his position as Chairman of the Board of Management in February 2014. As the company’s founding CEO, his passion and focus were instrumental to LANXESS’ successful growth and development.
- Entered the DAX seven years after formation of LANXESS AG
- Achieved ambitious growth in emerging markets through investments and acquisitions
- Successful crisis management in 2008/2009 following the world financial crisis
- Focused enterprise on innovation and emerging markets
- Created an innovative brand, pricing and marketing strategy
- Implemented the “value before volume” - pricing strategy
- Led restructuring and realignment programs of core assets
- Led a successful divestment program of non-performing assets
- Developed excellent labor relations with trade unions
- Public listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (MDAX)
- Formulated a strategy and execution for the new company
- Carve-out of the business from Bayer group, creation of a new company, LANXESS group
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Member of the Executive Committee of Bayer Polymers and President of Bayer Polymers Asia/Pacific
Bayer Polymers, Shanghai City, China
2002 – 2004- Development and implementation of an ambitious growth strategy for the Asia/Pacific Region with focus on China
- Realignment of regional business of Asia/Pacific region
- Regionalization of country-focused businesses with HQ in Shanghai City, China
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Head of Rubber Division
Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany
2002- Integration of the Rubber Division into the newly formed Bayer Polymers AG
- Project leader for the formation of Bayer Polymers AG as one of four new sub-groups of Bayer (Pharma, Agro, Chemicals and Polymers)
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CEO and Chairman of the Board of Management
Wolff Walsrode AG (A Division of Bayer AG), Bomlitz, Germany
1999 - 2002- Development and implementation of a growth strategy utilizing innovation, investment and product extension to enter new markets
- Active portfolio management (disinvestments)
- Comprehensive restructuring and realignment of the business
- Development and implementation of an industrial park concept for Bomlitz site
- Negotiation of agreements with works council and trade union (IG BCE) to implement a comprehensive restructuring program
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Head of Production (worldwide)
PolymerLatex (A Bayer/Degussa joint venture), Marl, Germany
1996 - 1999- Increase of capacity
- Significant improvement of competitiveness after restructuring and realignment of production sites (global)
- Member of the team that created and led the Bayer/Degussa joint venture
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Site Manager
Bayer plc, West Midlands, UK
1993 - 1996- Increase of capacity
- Significant increase of competitiveness after restructuring of all aspects of a stand-alone manufacturing site
- Led realignment of the business
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Plant Manager of a complex Integrated Production Facility
Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany
1991 - 1993- Significant profit improvement after implementation of a new tool to optimize the complex value chain of a large cross-production network across several sites
- Development of a new market-driven tool to optimize the complex value chain of a large cross-production network across several sites
- Led major process optimization of the plant
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Trainee
Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany
1989 - 1991- Central Research
- Technical Marketing and
- Manufacturing
