Evonik has appointed Dr. Dirk Hoehler as the new head of the Essential Nutrition product line, under which Evonik is consolidating its amino acids portfolio. Hoehler will take over the role from Dr. Jan-Olaf Barth, who has been promoted to become the head of the High Performance Polymers business line of Evonik.

Hoehler will be responsible for overseeing the­ continued transformation of the amino acids business by focusing on sustainability, efficiency and cost leadership. In particular, he will continue to implement the global methionine asset strategy developed under Barth’s direction to secure Evonik’s leading position in methionine.

This year, Evonik announced it will streamline the operating model for its amino acids business, characterized by a lean sales organization with strong digital capabilities and processes. A key element is also the continuous investments in its methionine world-scale production hubs, which will lead to efficiency improvements and reductions in carbon footprint of 6% (Singapore) and 7% (Mobile, Alabama).

As one of Hoehler’s priorities, he will ensure the smooth implementation of the planned shutdowns of the methionine Singapore plant on Jurong Island, starting this quarter.

“We fully understand that these shutdowns may pose challenges for our customers and our teams have prepared mitigation plans for MetAMINO supply from our global production network,” Hoehler said. “We are in continuous communication with regional and global customers to carefully plan shipments.”

Hoehler brings to the role a wealth of experience in several parts of the Evonik Group, having been head of marketing and sales of performance intermediates and recently head of sales at animal nutrition.

Hoehler joined the group in 1998 as manager of animal nutrition and served between 2000 and 2008 as director nutrition and technical services in Kennesaw, Georgia. He was subsequently head of the coating resins product line and head of marketing and sales of the performance intermediates business line at Evonik Performance Materials before taking up his current role.

He holds a Ph.D. and habilitation in nutritional physiology, studying at the Universities of Giessen and Kiel, Germany, and the University of Manitoba in Canada.

The Essential Nutrition product line is part of Evonik’s Animal Nutrition business and includes products such as MetAMINO (DL-methionine), Biolys (source for lysine), and ThreAMINO (threonine).