Klaus Engel has been CEO of Evonik Industries AG since January 2009. Prior to this, he was a member of the Executive Board of Evonik Industries. Engel became Chairman of the Management Board of Evonik Degussa GmbH in September 2007, having held the same position at Degussa GmbH since January 2007. In June 2006, he joined the Executive Board of RAG AG and also served as Chairman of the Management Board of Degussa AG.

Previously, Engel was CEO of Brenntag Management GmbH between 2004 and 2006. In 2001, he was named Chairman of the Executive Board of Brenntag AG, having been appointed to the company’s Executive Board in 1999. Throughout his career, Engel has served in a variety of posts at major companies. In 1998, he joined Stinnes AG. Previously, he served Managing Director of Creanova Spezialchemie GmbH. Engel was employed at Huls AG for four years, beginning in 1994. He joined the German utility company VEBA AG (today known as E.ON) in 1989. Engel began his professional career at Chemische Werke Huls AG in 1984 after receiving his PhD from Ruhr University, Bochum, where he majored in Chemistry.