Born in 1970 in Bremen, Germany, Dr. Derr earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Bremen, then began his career in 1997 at Bayer AG as an R&D Manager for plastics. In 2003, he joined specialty chemicals company LANXESS AG, where he held various leadership roles, including Head of Commercial & Supply Chain Excellence and Chief Commercial Officer. In 2016, he moved to the company’s subsidiary Saltigo, where he managed the fine chemicals business until becoming CEO of SGL Carbon, headquartered in Wiesbaden. There, he worked to ensure the successful and profitable development of the publicly listed company focused on carbon-based technologies.

The Chairman of SCHOTT’s Supervisory Board, Dr. Michael Bolle, welcomed Dr. Derr to his new role: “The Supervisory Board looks forward to working with Dr. Derr. His extensive experience and track record in leading and developing technology companies make him highly qualified for the position. With SCHOTT, he is joining a healthy and growth-oriented company with a solid foundation. Our best wishes to Dr. Derr.”

Dr. Derr succeeds Dr. Frank Heinricht, who became SCHOTT’s CEO in 2013 when the company was still grappling with a downturn in the German solar industry. In the years that followed, Heinricht steered SCHOTT back to a successful trajectory. Focused on innovation, his growth strategy significantly improved business performance, while his emphasis on a strong team culture inspired employees worldwide.

SCHOTT’s new CEO intends to build on this legacy: “SCHOTT is a company with an impressive history and tradition that is simultaneously highly innovative and future-oriented. It’s an honor to take on the leadership of the company. I look forward to the challenging and exciting journey ahead,” said Dr. Derr.