(EnergyAsia, March 14 2012, Wednesday)— German chemicals giant BASF has made three senior appointments to oversee its paper chemicals, crop protection and mobile emissions catalysts business units in the Asia Pacific region.

Lin Heng, who joined BASF-YPC Company Ltd as senior legal counsel in 2001, has been appointed as senior vice president to lead the company’s paper chemicals business, replacing Eng Soo Chew who retires on March 31.

Earlier, Mr Lin was general manager of BASF Shanghai Coatings Co Ltd with responsibility for strategy development and business growth in China, and was head of its Singapore-based crop protection division.

Raman Ramachandra, as senior vice president of Crop Protection (Asia Pacific), succeeded Mr Lin from March 1.

Dr Ramachandran started his career with BASF in 2000 as senior manager marketing in the agricultural products business of BASF South East Asia Pte Ltd.

Effective April 1, 2012, BASF has appointed Anup Kothari as vice president of business management, to lead its mobile emissions catalysts business in the Asia Pacific region. Based in Shanghai, China, Mr Kothari will succeed Lothar Laupichler, who has been named senior vice president of electronic materials in Ludwigshafen, Germany.

Mr Kothari has been vice president of strategy & planning and new business development in BASF Corp’s catalysts division for North America since 2009.