Evonik, a global speciality chemicals company, has announced a significant reorganisation of its management structure and business segments. The changes, set to take effect on 1 April 2025, aim to streamline operations, enhance strategic focus and position the company for long-term growth and sustainability.

New Business Segments

The company will replace its current four-division structure with two new segments: Custom Solutions and Advanced Technologies. These segments will directly report to members of the Executive Board, eliminating an entire management layer and reducing bureaucracy.

• Custom Solutions will focus on innovation-driven business models, catering to niche markets with customised solutions. This segment, employing around 7,000 people, includes additives for paints, coatings, and products for the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries.
• Advanced Technologies will emphasise efficiency, operational excellence, and cost leadership. It employs approximately 8,000 people and includes high-performance polymers and hydrogen peroxide production.

“The Supervisory Board supports the Executive Board’s strategy and the structural development of the Group,” said Bernd Tönjes, Chairman of the Supervisory Board. “We are convinced that Evonik will be able to exploit its full potential for profitable growth with the new structure.”

The two segments collectively generate annual sales of around €6 billion each and are expected to complement each other. Custom Solutions will drive growth, contributing disproportionately to adjusted EBITDA, while Advanced Technologies will focus on generating cash flow.

Management Overhaul

Evonik is implementing a leaner management model as part of its “Evonik Tailor Made” programme. This programme will reduce costs and streamline decision-making by 2026. The number of management levels will be cut from ten to six, and over 3,000 organisational units will be eliminated.

As part of the restructuring, Lauren Kjeldsen, currently head of the Smart Materials division, will lead Custom Solutions, while Claudine Mollenkopf, head of the Specialty Additives division, will oversee Advanced Technologies. Both will join the Executive Board in April 2025.

“Our Executive Board is becoming more international and will have more women,” said Christian Kullmann, Chairman of the Executive Board. “Lauren and Claudine have been very successful leaders, and I look forward to working with them. Together, we will make Evonik better.”

Leadership Transitions

Harald Schwager, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board since 2017, will retire at the end of the year, along with Johann-Caspar Gammelin and Joachim Dahm, two other senior executives.

Praising Schwager’s contributions, Tönjes said: “Harald Schwager has made lasting contributions to our company. This applies particularly to Research and Development, which has steadily increased its innovation power under his leadership.”

Kullmann echoed the sentiment: “For eight years, I worked very closely with Harald in an atmosphere of mutual trust. He has done a great job for our company, particularly in the areas of operational excellence and innovation.”

Thomas Wessel, Chief Human Resources Officer and Labour Director, will take on additional responsibilities, including overseeing Infrastructure and the new NextGen Technologies function, which focuses on technological sustainability.

Focus on Sustainability

Evonik is also driving its sustainability transformation forward. The company aims to increase the share of its NextGen Solutions—products with significant sustainability benefits—to over 50 percent by 2030.

“We have significantly improved the quality of our portfolio in recent years,” said Kullmann. “Our new management model takes this approach into account.”

Evonik’s restructuring is expected to create a more agile organisation, enabling the company to respond effectively to market demands while continuing its focus on innovation and sustainability.

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Anyline, a global leader in mobile AI and intelligent data capture technology, has stepped in to help transform how aircraft tyre inventories are managed in New Zealand, supporting logistics firm B&H Worldwide with its mobile AI and data capture tools. The technology has been woven into B&H’s existing FirstTRAC platform, targeting the unique demands of aerospace supply chains where precision and tracking are essential.

Processing times for tyre-related stock tasks have fallen by 60 percent since the system went live. Error rates have dropped sharply, landing between 80 and 90 percent, while data accuracy now sits above 99 percent. The number of tyres handled per hour has also climbed by roughly 30 percent, with warehouse teams using mobile devices to log key tyre details directly on the floor.

New Zealand was chosen as the launch pad for the global pilot, setting a template for future rollouts across B&H’s broader network. The Anyline mobile and web software development kits feed a continuous stream of live data into FirstTRAC, covering stock checks, dispatch requests and bulk uploads. That real-time visibility strengthens compliance and creates a clear digital trail for high-value assets.

For Anyline, the project shows how AI can remove friction from manual logistics work, especially in aerospace where every part must be traceable. The next site already lined up is Melbourne, marking a clear step forward in B&H’s wider push towards digitised, resilient operations.

Christoph Braunsberger, CEO, Anyline, said, “We’re proud to support B&H Worldwide in transforming a highly specialised aerospace logistics workflow with AI. This implementation demonstrates how intelligent tyre data capture can improve speed, accuracy and traceability in safety-critical operations.”

Lee Hedges, Branch Manager, B&H Worldwide New Zealand, said, “This implementation represents a significant step forward in how we manage high-value, safety-critical inventory. By introducing real-time tyre scanning, we’ve improved accuracy, speed and traceability across our operations. For our customers, it means greater visibility, faster reporting and increased confidence in the integrity of their stock.”

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Continental has emerged as the dominant force in the 2026 independent European summer tyre tests, securing 13 outright wins and 19 podium finishes across 24 evaluations conducted by leading automotive publications and mobility organisations. The results span a diverse range of tyre segments and test conditions, reinforcing the German manufacturer’s reputation for consistent top-tier performance.

The company’s tyres excelled particularly in braking, wet grip and overall balance, showing reliability across vehicle classes from sustainable products to ultra-high-performance applications. Independent testers repeatedly highlighted Continental’s strong braking performance, high levels of wet adhesion and well-rounded driving behaviour, confirming its premium ambitions.

Among the standout achievements, the PremiumContact 7 was named overall winner in the Auto Zeitung UHP summer tyre test, praised for its balanced wet and dry handling. The SportContact 7 claimed first place in the Auto Bild sportscars UHP test, recognised for precise handling and shortest braking distances. Meanwhile, the UltraContact NXT achieved a leading position in the AvD summer tyre test, proving that sustainability-focused designs can deliver strong core safety performance.

Continuous development in tread design, compound technologies and tyre construction underpins these results, allowing a blend of safety, efficiency and driving dynamics. The 2026 test season ultimately demonstrates Continental’s ability to deliver reliable top-level results across a broad portfolio and a wide range of independent evaluations.

Andreas Schlenke, Tire Expert at Continental, said, “These results confirm the consistency of our product performance across different segments and test conditions. They show that our focus on braking, wet grip and overall balance translates directly into strong results in independent testing.”

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Hankook Tire is supplying its Ventus F200 racing tyre to the HWA EVO.R sedan, competing in the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours, taking place from 14 to 17 May in Germany. Serving as the Official Technology Partner of HWA AG, Hankook is providing technical assistance throughout the race weekend with the Ventus F200 fitted to the HWA EVO.R in the open SP-X class for high-performance tuned vehicles. The racing slick is engineered for dry conditions and aims to deliver stable performance under extreme endurance racing demands.

Recognised globally in motorsport, the Ventus F200 incorporates advanced compound technologies that enhance driving performance and achieve roughly a 10 percent weight reduction over its predecessor. The tyre offers strong grip, high-speed stability and precise handling under demanding race conditions. HWA AG, founded by former Mercedes-AMG Co‑Founder Hans Werner Aufrecht, is a noted global motorsport engineering company specialising in high‑performance vehicle development.

This collaboration expands an existing strategic partnership, following Hankook’s original equipment tyre supply for the limited‑production HWA EVO last year. Hankook currently provides several ultra‑high‑performance OE products for that model, including the Ventus evo Z, Ventus evo and Winter i*cept evo3. Moving forward, Hankook plans to strengthen its premium brand competitiveness by deepening cooperation with HWA AG in both OE and motorsport sectors.

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HS HYOSUNG ADVANCED MATERIALS has secured a place on the Dow Jones Best-in-Class (DJ BIC) Korea Index for three years running, marking consistent recognition from the S&P Global benchmark for corporate sustainability. This index, released by a major global financial information provider, is known as a highly trusted gauge of ESG performance. Membership is limited to the top 30 percent of companies per industry, drawn from the two hundred largest listed firms in South Korea by market value.

In a related achievement, the company also appeared in S&P Global’s Sustainability Yearbook 2026 for the second straight year. The latest assessment reviewed over 9,200 businesses across 59 industries worldwide, and HS HYOSUNG ADVANCED MATERIALS earned a Yearbook Member designation by placing within the top fifteen percent of its global industry.

To drive these results, the firm has built an ESG framework on four pillars: Zero Fatality for safety, Zero Emission for carbon reduction, Zero Waste for circular resource use and Zero Impact for stakeholder accountability. Senior management directly oversees a Sustainability Management Committee and specialised subcommittees, ensuring that ESG strategies are implemented across the entire organisation to boost corporate value.

Jim Jindal Lim, CEO, HS HYOSUNG ADVANCED MATERIALS, said, “Our inclusion in DJ BIC Korea for three consecutive years and our second consecutive listing in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook demonstrate that HS HYOSUNG ADVANCED MATERIALS has consistently implemented meaningful changes for sustainable management. We will continue strengthening our response to climate change and enhancing our corporate social responsibility.”

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