Speciality chemicals group Lanxess on Wednesday appointed its South African CFO Ben Marais as country representative and MD.
Marais, a qualified South African chartered accountant, completed his articles with international accounting firm Deloitte. Over the years, he gained extensive experience at executive level with several South African listed entities, particularly in the mining, construction, manufacturing and engineering industries.
In 2004, he joined Lanxess as CFO of the South African operations and, in 2006, participated in the first Lanxess acquisition when the company bought the externally held shareholding in Lanxess Cisa from its joint venture partner Dow Chemicals.
Marais was also actively involved in establishing the black economic-empowerment shareholding structure in the South African mining operation, Lanxess Chrome Mining, as well as the successful transfer of mining rights from the previous owner of the mine.
Marais succeeded Dr Karl-Rudolf Gassen, who returned to Germany at the end of June.