Dr. Markus Steilemann

Chief Executive Officer of Covestro

Dr. Markus Steilemann has been CEO of Covestro since June 2018. His area of responsibility includes central functions such as strategy, sustainability, human resources and communication. The strategic focus of his work is the comprehensive orientation of the company towards a fully circular economy.

Born in 1970 in Geilenkirchen, Germany, Steilemann studied chemistry at RWTH Aachen University and at ETH Zurich. He graduated from Aachen with a doctorate, where he also obtained a diploma in business administration. 

In 1999, Steilemann started his professional career with the Bayer Group. From 2008, he held senior management positions in the polycarbonates division of Bayer MaterialScience, the predecessor organization of Covestro. From 2013 to 2015, he headed the entire segment with headquarters in China, where he lived for several years.

Back in Germany, in 2015, Steilemann became a member of the board of Covestro with responsibility for innovation. In the following year, he was appointed head of the Polyurethanes division. In 2017, as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), he assumed responsibility for all three segments of the company, including innovation, marketing and sales.

Steilemann is active in numerous associations and organizations. He holds the presidency of PlasticsEurope, the Association of Plastics Manufacturers in Europe. He is also Vice President of the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI). He is also a member of the Bureau of the European Chemical Union (Cefic) and of the Executive Board of the ICCA, the World Association of Chemical Associations.