Jens Lühring to succeed Dr. Uta Holzenkamp as BASF Coatings CEO
The appointment of Luehring is being presented as a deliberate choice to bring in a seasoned carve‑out and private-equity-backed business leader to guide the company through its post‑closing phase.
GERMANY – BASF Coatings has named Jens Luehring as its future Chief Executive Officer, effective after the closing of the planned carve‑out and sale of its coatings business to global investment firm Carlyle.
The move is framed as the next step in transforming BASF Coatings into an independent, standalone company backed by private‑equity ownership.
Jens Luehring will assume the role of CEO upon completion of the transaction between BASF and Carlyle, which is intended to create a dedicated, standalone coatings entity.
Until then, Dr. Uta Holzenkamp will continue to serve as President of BASF Coatings and will support Luehring in ensuring a smooth handover.
The transaction, first announced on October 10, 2025, is still subject to standard regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026.
His stated mandate is to build on this foundation and accelerate the business’s transformation into an entrepreneurial, performance‑driven, independent coatings technology leader.
Dr. Uta Holzenkamp, President of BASF Coatings, said: “Having built a strong foundation for BASF Coatings with deep, longstanding customer partnerships, a strong and passionate global team, and market-leading innovative technologies, it is the right moment to hand over to Jens upon closing of the transaction.”
“With his international experience in building and transforming standalone businesses, he will drive the company’s next phase of growth.”
Luehring is described as an international business leader with more than 20 years of experience in corporate transformation, carve‑outs, mergers and acquisitions, and finance.
He spent 18 years in the industrial and medical gases sector, including leading the stand‑up and carve‑out of what was then legacy Linde’s Americas assets as a private‑equity‑backed, independent business, where he served as President and CEO for seven years, driving improved financial performance and operational excellence.
He has held CEO and CFO roles for over a decade and began his career in investment banking.
The leadership change is part of a broader restructuring of BASF’s coatings franchise, which includes its automotive OEM and automotive refinish coatings, as well as its surface treatment businesses.
Under Carlyle’s ownership, the standalone coatings company is expected to gain greater operational autonomy and focus on growth and innovation in global coatings markets.
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