EQS-News: GEA Supervisory Board takes early decision to extend contract of CEO Stefan Klebert and resolves to restructure the Executive Board and streamline the organizational structure as of January 1, 2026
Summary by AI BETAClose X
GEA's Supervisory Board has extended CEO Stefan Klebert's contract for two more years, through December 2028. Effective January 1, 2026, the Executive Board will expand from three to six members, accompanied by the dissolution of the 14-member Global Executive Committee. Alexander Kocherscheidt will become CFO, succeeding Bernd Brinker on October 31, 2025. Dr. Nadine Sterley will head the new People & Sustainability area. Kai Becker will lead the Pure Flow Processing Division, Klaus Stojentin the Nutrition Plant Engineering Division, and Peter Lauwers the Pharma & Food Applications Division. All new board members will serve until December 31, 2028, except Kocherscheidt, whose term ends October 31, 2028. The Supervisory Board will propose Prof. Dieter Kempf's reelection for one year, concluding at the 2027 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting.
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EQS-News: GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft
/ Key word(s): Personnel/Strategic Company Decision
Corporate Press Release
GEA Supervisory Board takes early decision to extend contract of CEO Stefan Klebert and resolves to restructure the Executive Board and streamline the organizational structure as of January 1, 2026
Düsseldorf, October 7, 2025 – In an early decision, the Supervisory Board of GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft has unanimously appointed Stefan Klebert (60) as Chairman of the Executive Board for a further two years – through the end of December 2028 – and extended his term of office accordingly. Prof. Dieter Kempf, Chairman of the GEA Supervisory Board: “The Supervisory Board is delighted that Stefan Klebert has agreed to extend his term of office, thus continuing our successful and trust-based cooperation. He has been highly successful in driving the company’s transformation and securing GEA’s entry into the DAX. We are convinced that his strategic foresight and clear direction will guide GEA into its next phase of growth.” Top GEA executives appointed to head restructured Executive Board areas As well as extending the CEO’s contract, the Supervisory Board also resolved to expand the Executive Board to six Executive Board areas from 2026. Successful executives from GEA’s existing divisional and functional leadership team have been appointed to head these new areas: Alexander Kocherscheidt (51) is appointed to be Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He will succeed Bernd Brinker (60), who will leave GEA effective 31 October, 2025, by mutual consent. This enables a further reduction in the average age of the Executive Board and an early succession for the CFO position, in line with the overall reorganization concept. Alexander Kocherscheidt, currently CFO of the Liquid & Powder Technologies Division, joined GEA in 2019 as Head of Group Finance, having previously held various management positions at ThyssenKrupp. He began his career in investment banking at Sal. Oppenheim. Dr. Nadine Sterley (44) will assume responsibility for the new People & Sustainability Executive Board area, as well as the role of Director of Labor. Her area of responsibility will include the HR, Sustainability, and Legal core functions. To date, she has served as GEA’s Chief Sustainability Officer and Chief Human Rights Officer. Prior to this and since mid-2016, she held various positions within the company. Before joining GEA, Nadine Sterley worked as an attorney at a prestigious international law firm. Kai Becker (44) will assume Executive Board responsibility for the Pure Flow Processing Division. This restructured division will comprise the Separation & Flow Technologies Division and the components business of Heating & Refrigeration Technologies. The Heating & Refrigeration Technologies Division currently headed by Kai Becker will be dissolved as of December 31, 2025. Kai Becker has worked for GEA since 2004. Klaus Stojentin (58) will assume Executive Board responsibility for the Nutrition Plant Engineering Division. This restructured division will combine the business of the Liquid & Powder Technologies Division with the Heating & Refrigeration Solutions business of the Heating & Refrigeration Technologies Division. Klaus Stojentin joined GEA in 2003 and currently heads the Separation & Flow Technologies Division. Peter Lauwers (55) will assume Executive Board responsibility for the Pharma & Food Applications Division, currently known as the Food & Healthcare Technologies Division; the Division’s portfolio will remain unchanged. He has served as Divisional CEO at GEA since 2020, leading Farm Technologies until 2024 and Food & Healthcare Technologies thereafter. Peter Lauwers previously held various senior management positions at Atlas Copco. All new members of the Executive Board will serve for a term of three years until December 31, 2028, with the exception of Alexander Kocherscheidt, who has been appointed until October 31, 2028. The Farm Technologies Division will continue to be led by Dr. Andreas Seeringer (44) and will report directly to the CEO. “The Supervisory Board looks forward to fruitful collaboration with the new Executive Board team,” says Prof. Dieter Kempf. “We are firmly convinced that the new Executive Board members embody exactly the right mix of entrepreneurship, drive, and innovative spirit. They have demonstrated these attributes impressively in their previous roles at GEA. Together, they will make a pivotal contribution to GEA’s continued development as a technology and sustainability pioneer. At the same time, we extend our sincere thanks to Bernd Brinker, who is leaving by mutual agreement, for his important contributions and outstanding commitment. We greatly welcome that Johannes Giloth will support the transition phase of the COO area until mid-2026. We also thank him warmly for his very successful work, which has significantly contributed to the increase in value of GEA in recent years.” Lean structures facilitate efficiency and rapid decision-making The creation of the Pure Flow Processing, Nutrition Plant Engineering, and Pharma & Food Applications Divisions at the Executive Board level establishes the basis for the focused and agile management of the company, concentrating on the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. This and the dissolution of the 14-member Global Executive Committee will streamline the leadership structure and facilitate clear and direct management of the country organizations by the Divisions. The new organization will eliminate the existing matrix structure in the regions. As a result, it will be possible to reduce costs and take decisions even faster and in closer proximity to the market. The area headed by Chief Operating Officer Johannes Giloth (55) – currently an Executive Board area – will be dissolved with a transition period through June 30, 2026. A centralized procurement function will be retained, in future reporting to the CEO. The other key COO functions will be integrated into the portfolios of the other Executive Board members. Johannes Giloth will be closely involved in the handover of his responsibilities over the coming months to ensure an orderly and smooth transition. In future, the fast-growing and strategically important markets of China and India will report directly to the CEO in order to foster entrepreneurship and accelerate growth. GEA CEO Stefan Klebert: “I greatly look forward to working with my new Executive Board team, all of whom I have known for many years and respect both professionally and personally. I would like to thank our Supervisory Board for the trust placed in me and the future Executive Board team. With the new Executive Board and organizational structure, we are establishing an even better foundation for accelerated profitable growth as part of our Mission 30 strategy. I owe special thanks to those colleagues who are leaving for their pivotal input. In particular, the efficiency programs of recent years in the COO area have contributed greatly to growing GEA’s value.” Supervisory Board Chairman will be proposed for reelection On the recommendation of the Nomination Committee, the GEA Supervisory Board will propose to the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting 2026 that Prof. Dieter Kempf be reelected as the Chairman of the Supervisory Board for a further year, until the conclusion of the ordinary Annual Shareholders’ Meeting 2027. The ongoing leadership of Prof. Dieter Kempf is intended to facilitate a continuation of the trust-based collaboration within the Supervisory Board and with the Executive Board as the company transitions to the new management and organizational structure. It is also intended to ensure an orderly succession process within the Supervisory Board. NOTES TO THE EDITOR
Contact FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES Jill Meiburg Senior Vice President Group Communications and Brand Mobile: +49 (0) 172 611 72 08 Phone: +49 (0) 211 91 36 27 67 jill.meiburg@gea.com Matthias Schnettler Vice President Media Relations Mobile: +49 (0) 162 34 63 734 Phone: +49 (0) 211 91 36 15 00 matthias.schnettler@gea.com About GEA GEA is one of the world’s largest suppliers of systems and components to the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. The international technology group, founded in 1881, focuses on machinery and plants, as well as advanced process technology, components and comprehensive services. For instance, every second pharma separator for essential healthcare products such as vaccines or novel biopharmaceuticals is produced by GEA. In food, every fourth package of pasta or every third chicken nugget are processed with GEA technology. With more than 18,000 employees, the group generated revenues of about EUR 5.5 billion in more than 150 countries in the 2024 fiscal year. GEA plants, processes, components and services enhance the efficiency and sustainability of customers’ production. They contribute significantly to the reduction of CO2 emissions, plastic usage and food waste. In doing so, GEA makes a key contribution toward a sustainable future, in line with the company’s purpose: ”Engineering for a better world.” GEA is listed on the German DAX, the European STOXX® Europe 600 Index and is also a constituent of the leading sustainability indices DAX 50 ESG, MSCI Global Sustainability and Dow Jones Best-in-Class World. More information can be found online at www.gea.com. If you do not want to receive any further information from GEA, please send an e-mail to pr@gea.com.
07.10.2025 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group. |
| Language: | English |
| Company: | GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft |
| Ulmenstraße 99 | |
| 40476 Düsseldorf | |
| Germany | |
| Phone: | +49 (0)211 9136-0 |
| E-mail: | ir@gea.com |
| Internet: | www.gea.com |
| ISIN: | DE0006602006 |
| WKN: | 660200 |
| Indices: | DAX |
| Listed: | Regulated Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Hamburg, Munich; Regulated Unofficial Market in Hanover, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange |
| EQS News ID: | 2209304 |
| End of News | EQS News Service |
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2209304 07.10.2025 CET/CEST
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