03/26/2020 | Press Releases

A strong voice for Germany and Europe: Dr. Matthias Gutweiler appointed to Kuraray's Board of Directors

Hattersheim (Germany)/Tokyo (Japan). The Kuraray organisation in Germany and Europe is gaining a strong voice within the global Kuraray Group. Dr. Matthias Gutweiler, President of Kuraray Europe GmbH, has been appointed with immediate effect to the Board of Directors of Kuraray Co., Ltd., which has its head office in Tokyo. Dr. Gutweiler has a PhD in chemistry and is the first person from outside Japan to be appointed to the 12-member Board of Directors, which is headed by the Masaaki Ito, President of the Kuraray Group. Dr. Matthias Gutweiler has been managing director of Kuraray’s European subsidiary, which is based in Hattersheim, near Frankfurt am Main, Germany, since 2009. Before that, he was in charge of the PVOH and PVB business at this speciality chemicals producer. One of the first key projects in his new role will be the new 3-year plan, which sets out the next strategic milestones for the Kuraray Group.

“I see my appointment to the Board of Directors of the Kuraray Group as recognition of the success that we have achieved together at Kuraray Europe in the past years and as a special acknowledgement of the excellent work done by our employees,” says Dr. Matthias Gutweiler. “Collaboration between the management in Japan and Kuraray in Europe has always been characterised by trust and mutual respect. On this basis, we have been able to provide key ideas that strengthen the company and are reflected in the strategy of the Kuraray Group. We will continue to build on that in the future.” The Kuraray Group, which is headquartered in Tokyo, has more than 11,100 employees around the world and is a leading supplier of industrial polymers and synthetic microfibres. Kuraray Europe GmbH (KEG) was established in 1991 and is based in Hattersheim am Main, Germany. It has more than 700 employees in Germany and a further 200 at six other European sites. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuraray. In 2019 its annual sales were EUR 661 million.

Shaping the PVB and PVOH business for more than 30 years

Dr. Matthias Gutweiler has played a significant role in the development of the company in Europe in recent years. Having obtained his doctorate at the Biochemical Institute of Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, Dr. Gutweiler began his career in research and development at Hoechst AG in 1988. He subsequently held managerial roles in PVB Development and PVOH Production at Hoechst. In 2001, the newly established company Kuraray Specialities GmbH acquired the former PVB and PVOH business of Hoechst AG from the Clariant Group. Dr. Matthias Gutweiler became Head of Research and Development for the PVOH brand Mowiol, now Kuraray Poval, and the PVB brand Mowital. In 2009 he was appointed Managing Director of Kuraray Europe GmbH - the first non-Japanese member of the extended executive management.

International perspectives for the new 3-year plan

“Globalisation also means involving people from around the world in decision-making. By appointing me to the Board of Directors, the management is responding to this by ‘globalising’ itself,” says Dr. Matthias Gutweiler. “I am delighted to have this opportunity to play a part in determining the course of the Group. I see myself as an advocate for the international management and would like to contribute new perspectives and impetus for Kuraray's continued development. The next 3-year plan, which we will be drawing up this year to define Kuraray's global focus, is a good opportunity for that.” In addition to his seat on the Board of Directors of the Kuraray Group, Dr. Matthias Gutweiler will remain Managing Director of Kuraray Europe GmbH.

About Kuraray

Established in 1991, Kuraray Europe GmbH is based in Hattersheim, near Frankfurt am Main, Germany. In 2019 the company generated annual sales of EUR 661 million. It has more than 700 employees in Germany at its sites in Hattersheim, Frankfurt and Troisdorf. Kuraray is a global speciality chemicals company and one of the largest suppliers of industrial polymers and synthetic microfibres for many sectors of industry. Examples are KURARAY POVAL™, Mowital^®, Trosifol^® and CLEARFIL™. Kuraray Europe also has around 200 employees at six other European sites. They are also working on the development and application of innovative high-performance materials for a wide range of sectors, including the automotive, paper, glass and packaging industries, as well as for architects and dentists.

Kuraray Europe is a wholly owned subsidiary of the publicly listed Kuraray Co., Ltd., which is based in Tokyo, Japan, and has more than 11,100 employees worldwide and sales of EUR 4,7 billion.

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Dr. Bettina Plaumann
Head of KEG Communications & Marketing
Kuraray Europe GmbH
Philipp-Reis-Straße 4
65795 Hattersheim am Main, Germany
Phone: +49 69 305 85797
Email: Bettina.Plaumann(at)kuraray.com  
Internet: www.kuraray.eu  

Christopher Kampfmann
Wortwahl – Agentur für Unternehmens- und Onlinekommunikation
Bahnhofstraße 123
63263 Neu-Isenburg, Germany
Phone: +49 6102 36678-22
E-Mail: kampfmann(at)wortwahl.de 
Internet: www.wortwahl.de  

Captions/source of photos: Kuraray

A strong voice for Germany and Europe: Dr. Matthias Gutweiler has been Managing Director of Kuraray Europe since 2009. Now, he has been appointed to the top decision-making board of the global Kuraray Group, which is based in Tokyo, Japan. As the first member of the Board of Directors from outside Japan, he also regards himself as an advocate for the international management of this speciality chemicals corporation.