As of July 1, Raimar Jahn assumed responsibility for BASF 's Coatings Operating Division. In addition, Jahn has become CEO of BASF Coatings AG. In both positions, Jahn has succeeded Jean-Pierre Monteny who retired on June 30. Jahn was born in Mainz, Germany, in 1958. He studied economics at the Hochschule der Bundeswehr, Hamburg. In 1985, Jahn joined BASF as marketing and sales manager. After working for BASF's subsidiary Elastogran GmbH from 1988 to 1989, Jahn relocated to BASF Mexicana in 1989 to work in sales for polyurethanes and specialty chemicals. In 1997, he became senior vice president of BASF's automotive coatings business in North America and was based in Southfield, MI. Jahn was appointed president of BASF's Performance Polymers division in 2001.