$11 billion Royal DSM N.V., a global life sciences and materials sciences company headquartered in the Netherlands, has hired Femke Weijtens as corporate secretary. She will succeed Paul Fuchs, who retires Sept. 1.

Weijtens, who will join DSM on April 1 to prepare for the new role, currently is director of external relations at Schretlen en Co N.V., based in the Netherlands. She has several years experience as partner at a leading law firm in the Netherlands and specializes in corporate law.

Weijtens will report to Feike Sijbesma, chairman of the DSM Managing Board.