Heidelberg names new CEO

An international industry expert, Hundsdörfer will replace Dr Gerold Linzbach on November 14, who is leaving the company of his own accord.

‘We sincerely thank Gerold Linzbach for successfully turning around the company. Heidelberg is well on track,' said Dr Siegfried Jaschinski, chairman of the Heidelberg supervisory board. 'We are delighted to have gained an internationally experienced leadership personality in Rainer Hundsdörfer to drive forward the reorientation of the company. Hundsdörfer has acquired many years of specialist expertise with global technology leaders that will help pave the way forward to a successful digital future at Heidelberg.'

Hundsdörfer has managed a number of leading industrial technology companies, most recently as chairman of the board of management of ebm-papst, a manufacturer of fans and motors. Prior to this, he was chairman of the Industry division and member of the executive board at Schaeffler. After graduating in business engineering, Hundsdörfer started work for Trumpf in Ditzingen and performed various managerial roles abroad. After this, he was appointed CEO of Weinig, a machines and systems manufacturer for timber processing, based in Tauberbischofsheim in Baden-Württemberg.

‘Heidelberg is moving toward customer-focused technology and services in what is a changed market environment,’ commented Hundsdörfer. ‘We now need to make solid use of the opportunities digitization presents for profitable growth.’

With this focus on expanding digital business models at Heidelberg, Hermann has been appointed a member of the management board effective November 14. As a proven expert in digitization, he is qualified to steer the company’s ongoing digital transformation.

‘Dr Hermann has been successful in realigning conventional business models throughout his career. Heidelberg will benefit from his experience in the future,’ added Jaschinski.

Hermann was most recently CEO of Wolters Kluwer Germany and regional managing director of Wolters Kluwer Central Europe. Prior to this, he was member of the management board of Süddeutscher Verlag Hüthig Fachinformation. After graduating in mechanical engineering, he earned his doctorate in business economics in St Gallen in 1996. He launched his business career in 1997 with a number of managerial positions at Bertelsmann.

Current management board member Harald Weimer, responsible for Heidelberg Services, will be stepping down at his own request as of November 13, and will supervise the transition in the period to March 31, 2017.

Stephan Plenz’s management board contract has been extended, as scheduled, for a further three years. Thus the management board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen comprises the following members, effective November 14, 2016:

• Rainer Hundsdörfer, chairman of the management board
• Dirk Kaliebe , member of the management board
• Stephan Plenz, member of the management board
• Dr Ulrich Hermann, member of the management board