BG Group has appointed Patrick W. Thomas as a Non-Executive Director with immediate effect.

Commenting on the appointment, BG Group's Chairman Sir Robert Wilson said: "We are delighted to announce this appointment. Patrick's international industrial experience will be a valuable addition to our Board."

Patrick W. Thomas, 53, a British citizen based in Germany, was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Bayer MaterialScience AG, part of the Bayer Group, in 2007.

Mr Thomas graduated from Oxford University with an engineering degree in 1979. He began his career with ICI in the UK and held a number of positions with ICI Pharmaceuticals and Agrochemicals (which became Zeneca in 1993). In 1989, Mr Thomas transferred to Belgium to join ICI Polyurethanes, undertaking various management assignments and in 1993 was appointed Regional Director for Europe, Africa & the Middle East. Four years later he was appointed global Chief Executive Officer of ICI Polyurethanes.

In 1999, Mr Thomas joined Huntsman Corporation, a U.S. chemicals company, as President of the Polyurethanes, Performance and Advanced Materials Division. In 2003, he was appointed Corporate Executive Vice President of Huntsman Matlin Patterson. He joined Bayer MaterialScience AG in 2006.

Mr Thomas is Chairman of the Oxford University Business Economics Programme Board, Chairman of the advisory board of the European Institute for Industrial Leadership and Chairman of the World Chlorine Council.

Tags: BG Group