Dow announces new geographical alignment

The newly formed Dow 'MENAT' region will be headed by Markus Wildi, whose previous role as President of Dow Middle East will expand to include North Africa and Turkey, while retaining his dual role as Vice President of Corporate Development, Kuwait.

Dow's geographic alignment shift is a strategic business decision to provide the Company's growth regions with a more dedicated focus, allowing Dow to build on their synergies. This new alignment will also allow Dow to leverage its commercial and manufacturing expertise and presence in the region, in order to cater to local needs and drive product localization and innovation. In his new role, Wildi will be responsible for driving Dow's growth strategy in the MENAT region, as well as overseeing responsibilities for the region's joint ventures.

"As the global economic environment remains challenging, we are taking this proactive step as part of our efforts to further evolve our business," said Heinz Haller, Chief Commercial Officer, President of Dow Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and Executive Vice President of The Dow Chemical Company. "This approach ensures appropriate geographic and cultural alignment, provides critical mass for our markets, and reflects the important role that the region plays in the full vision of our transformational strategy."

"We are a growth company and Dow's new geographic alignment allows us to better serve our customers and unlock new opportunities, inspiring this growth", said Wildi. "The region has a growing demand for solutions to big challenges such as the need for energy, water, food, housing and health. In addition to increasing operational efficiency, this shift means a sharpened focus on providing solutions to these challenges."

Wildi started his career with Dow in 1987 and has held numerous positions in sales and commercial management around the world.

In May 1990, he was appointed Sales Manager for STYROFOAM in Germany, based in Frankfurt. In January 1993, he became Regional Commercial Manager for Fabricated Products in France, Spain and Italy, and relocated to Paris. In October 1995, he assumed the position of Product Marketing Manager for Solution Polyethylene, Dow Europe, and relocated to Horgen, Switzerland.

Wildi relocated to Singapore in 1998 to assume the position of Sales Director for ASEAN, Australia/New Zealand, India and Pakistan. In January 2000, he was promoted to Commercial Director for the Polyolefins and Elastomers Business Group in the Pacific Area and then in February 2004 was named Commercial Vice President, Basic Plastics, Europe, Middle East and Africa. Prior to being appointed to his current position in 2009, Wildi was President of Dow Europe and President and Chairman of the Board of Dow Deutschland which he assumed in 2006.