Business News
Dr. Jürgen F. Strube turns 70
Monday 03. August 2009 - Dr. Jürgen F. Strube, Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board of BASF SE in Ludwigshafen, celebrates his 70th birthday on August 19, 2009.
Strube was born in Bochum, Germany, and obtained a doctorate in law. He joined the Finance Department of BASF in 1969. After positions in Antwerp, Ludwigshafen and São Paulo, he was appointed Member of the Board of Executive Directors in 1985 and was based first in New Jersey and, as of 1988, in Ludwigshafen. Two years later, he was appointed Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors. After retiring from the Board of Executive Directors in 2003, Strube was appointed to the Supervisory Board of BASF, where he held the post of Chairman until the end of April 2009. He was then appointed Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board.
As Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, Strube set out the strategic direction for the future-oriented development of BASF. This included the companys increased globalization, a focus on less cyclical portfolio and a commitment to sustainability. During Strubes tenure, Wintershalls oil and gas activities were intensified and the partnership with Gazprom was established. Under his chairmanship, investments were also made to modernize the Schwarzheide chemical site in eastern Germany, and decisions were taken to establish Verbund sites with Sinopec in Nanjing, China, and in Kuantan, Malaysia, with Petronas.
Thanks to his diverse sociopolitical activities in the fields of business, politics and culture, Strube has also provided important impulses outside of BASF.
In addition to numerous academic honors and titles held in Germany and abroad, Strube has been awarded the Order of Merit, 1st Class, of the Federal Republic of Germany.