Top management changes at TÜV SÜD Chemie Service

Since its foundation in 2005, TÜV SÜD Chemie Service GmbH has developed into a leading full-service provider for the chemical and process industries. Thomas Walkenhorst (37) will take over as CEO of the company from 1 March 2017, succeeding Dr Hans-Nicolaus Rindfleisch (65). The new company head will be supported by the recently appointed Chief Operating Officer, Hans Joachim Machetanz (48).

TÜV SÜD Chemie Service GmbH evolved from a merger of the owners’ inspectorates at Bayer, Hoechst and Dow. Over the 12 years since its foundation, the company has advanced to become a full service provider for the industry. Under the leadership of Dr Hans-Nicolaus Rindfleisch, TÜV SÜD Chemie Service has succeeded in carving out a position as a successful player on both the German and global markets, and has attracted numerous new customers. In parallel to this development, the workforce was increased from 80 to 200 employees. Dr Rindfleisch will retain responsibility for management of the Business Unit Chemical, Oil and Gas of the TÜV SÜD Group until the end of May 2017. Comprising over 1,200 employees at 30 industry locations throughout the world, the Unit provides services supporting plant and facility safety and reliability.

In his new position as CEO, Thomas Walkenhorst (l.) plans to continue the success story of TÜV SÜD Chemie Service GmbH. “We will maintain our strong position in the German process industry, while strategically building and expanding our status by entering intensive partnerships with other member companies of the TÜV SÜD Group”, affirms Walkenhorst. He describes a further area of focus as the growth of international activities in countries including China and Singapore, and in key emerging markets in Asia. “In terms of the scope of our operations, we will primarily expand our activities in the fields of process safety and electrical safety”, adds the new COO, Hans Joachim Machetanz (r.). In addition, TÜV SÜD Chemie Service aims to establish itself as an integral element of projects in the chemical, pharmaceutical and process industries by providing appropriate services. “Given our company’s roots in the chemical industry, we believe we have excellent prospects”, believes the new COO. “Around 75 per cent of our employees are from that sector.”

Thomas Walkenhorst and Hans Joachim Machetanz

Thomas Walkenhorst (37) studied Business Management at the University of Regensburg, ESCP EAP in Paris and Leipzig Graduate School of Management. From 2005 to 2011 he was engaged in the Mergers & Acquisitions sector at leading financial institutions in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and London. He joined TÜV SÜD’s M&A Unit in April 2011, overseeing transactions including the acquisition of US-based RCI Consultants, consulting specialists in the development, construction and installation of petroleum and natural-gas drilling and pipeline systems. After being appointed to the Board of Management of TÜV SÜD Chemie Service GmbH in January 2015, Walkenhorst was responsible for activities at the company’s Frankfurt location and for the North American activities of the TÜV SÜD Business Unit Chemical, Oil and Gas.

Hans Joachim Machetanz (48) is living proof of TÜV SÜD Chemie Service’s claim to be rooted in the chemical industry. After completing integrated degree studies at Bayer AG and graduating in Industrial Mechanics (Faculty of Operating Technology) and in process engineering, he began his career in 1996 as an operating engineer at a Bayer AG company in Leverkusen. In 2000 he moved to the owner’s inspectorate at Bayer AG, which merged with TÜV SÜD in 2005 to form the new TÜV SÜD Chemie Service GmbH. Machetanz was subsequently responsible for numerous projects for key accounts, including Bayer Material Science, Wacker AG and Celanese (Ticona). He joined the engineering division of Lanxess in 2012 as head of quality assurance for global procurement of plant parts, and returned to TÜV SÜD Chemie Service in 2015, where he oversees the Plant Safety and Inspection department in Leverkusen.

For more information on services provided by TÜV SÜD Chemie Service, visit www.tuv-sud.com/cog.

Note for Editors: The high-resolution photos of Thomas Walkenhorst, Hans Joachim Machetanz and Dr Hans-Nicolaus Rindfleisch can be downloaded from the "Media Photos" category at www.tuv-sud.com/pressphotos.

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