As part of the company’s strategic realignment, SGL Group will reduce the Board of Management from three to two members. For this reason, the Supervisory Board of SGL Carbon SE and Board of Management member Dr. Gerd Wingefeld have mutually agreed not to renew Mr. Wingefeld’s contract expiring at the end of September 2017 and to terminate it prematurely effective end of this year. Gerd Wingefeld has been a member of the Board of Management since 2008, responsible, among others, for Technology and Innovation. In his function as Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Jürgen Köhler will take over this responsibility from Gerd Wingefeld.
“The decision to downsize the Board of Management is a result of SGL Group’s strategic realignment. Dr. Gerd Wingefeld, a passionate chemist, has devoted his knowhow and energy since 2002 for the benefit of the Company. For his dedication and the agreement taken now he deserves our gratitude and respect,” states Susanne Klatten, Chair of the Supervisory Board.
“Numerous innovations during his tenure can be directly associated with Gerd Wingefeld. Most recently he has launched four future growth areas as the strategic framework for medium- and long-term innovation and product development,” says Jürgen Köhler. “I wish to thank him for the very good, inspiring and trustworthy cooperation.”
“After almost fifteen years, it goes without saying that leaving SGL certainly isn’t easy. However, the time has now come for me to begin a new phase of my life,” Gerd Wingefeld explains.
About SGL Group – The Carbon Company
SGL Group is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of carbon-based products and materials. It has a comprehensive portfolio ranging from carbon and graphite products to carbon fibers and composites. SGL Group’s core competencies are its expertise in high-temperature technology as well as its applications and engineering know-how gained over many years. These competencies enable the Company to make full use of its broad material base. SGL Group’s carbon-based materials combine several unique properties such as very good electrical and thermal conductivity, heat and corrosion resistance as well as high mechanical strength combined with low weight. Due to industrialization in the growth regions of Asia and Latin America and increased substitution of traditional with innovative materials, there is a growing demand for SGL Group’s high-performance materials and products. Products from SGL Group are used predominantly in the steel, aluminum, automotive and chemical industries as well as in the semiconductor, solar and LED sectors and in lithium-ion batteries. Carbon-based materials and products are also being used increasingly in the wind power, aerospace and defense industries.
With 40 production sites in Europe, North America and Asia as well as a service network covering more than 100 countries, SGL Group is a company with a global presence. In 2015, the Company’s workforce of around 5,700 employees generated sales of €1,323 million. The Company’s head office is located in Wiesbaden.
Important note:
This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on the information currently available to us and on our current projections and assumptions. By nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, as a consequence of which actual developments and results can deviate significantly from these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not to be understood as guarantees. Rather, future developments and results depend on a number of factors; they entail various risks and unanticipated circumstances and are based on assumptions which may prove to be inaccurate. These risks and uncertainties include, for example, unforeseeable changes in political, economic, legal, and business conditions, particularly relating to our main customer industries, such as electric steel production, to the competitive environment, to interest rate and exchange rate fluctuations, to technological developments, and to other risks and unanticipated circumstances. Other risks that in our opinion may arise include price developments, unexpected developments connected with acquisitions and subsidiaries, and unforeseen risks associated with ongoing cost savings programs. SGL Group does not intend or assume any responsibility to revise or otherwise update these forward-looking statements.