The Association of Employed Academics and Executives in the Chemical Industry (VAA – Chemistry Managers) is the German organisation for managers and executives in the chemical and related industries. It safeguards the interests of almost 30.000 members and thus is one of the most important German professional associations and unions for executives and employees with managerial responsibility. Members of the VAA belong to a wide range of occupational groups and over 70 per cent of the VAA members have an academic background, usually a degree or Ph.D. in natural or applied sciences with a large population as scientists, engineers and managers. Complementing this group there are also a significant number of economists, agronomists and lawyers working in responsible positions for their respective companies. The VAA represents all of them – executive staff in SMEs, large companies and corporations of the chemical and related industries.