Press Release
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Schmitz Cargobull AG
Andreas Schmitz takes over as Chairman of the Management Board
Horstmar, March 2016 – The Supervisory Board of Schmitz Cargobull AG has appointed Andreas Schmitz (47) as the new Chairman of the Management Board, effective from 01 April 2016. He will take on the role at the turn of the fiscal year, within the framework of the planned age-related succession forUlrich Schümer. Andreas Schmitz assumes responsibility as Chairman of the Management Board for the departmental divisions Corporate Strategy, Public Relations, Emerging Markets, Schmitz Cargobull Wuhan (China) and Value Added Services. Ulrich Schümer will continue to serve the company as Chief Representative until mid-December 2016 in an advisory capacity, and for special assignments. With the appointment of Andreas Schmitz, a member of one of the owner families will once again head the European market leader for trailers and commercial vehicle bodies.
Also from 1 April 2016, Boris Billich (with the company since 1 January 2016) will take over the board division of Sales from Ulrich Schöpker within the framework of planned age-related succession. Ulrich Schöpker will also remain at the disposal of the company as Chief Representative for special assignments until mid-December 2016.
"This completes the long-planned generational change in the Management Board, and Schmitz Cargobull will continue to have a solid basis for a secure future as the market leader in Europe. The new Management Board combines continuity and experience with the creative power of a younger generation. We are especially pleased that through Andreas Schmitz, a great-grandson of the founder will now head the company as Chairman of the Management Board," reveals Prof. Dr. Jürgen Kluge, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Schmitz Cargobull AG.
The outgoing Chairman of the Management Board, Ulrich Schümer, has actively helped shape the generational change. He has worked in the company for more than
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30 years in a managerial capacity. "With his successful work, Ulrich Schümer rendered meritorious service and set the course for Schmitz Cargobull," affirms Prof. Dr Kluge.
Ulrich Schöpker has worked for Schmitz Cargobull since 1976 in a managerial capacity and, with 40 years of service, is a veteran in the company. He was appointed to the Management Board in 1998, and was responsible for Sales for the Western Europe region, as well as marketing. "Without Ulrich Schöpker's broad commitment, the winning path to European market leadership for semi-trailers would not have been possible," Prof. Dr. Kluge, points out.
Other board divisions with their areas of responsibility:
-Roland Klement has been responsible for Research, Development and Validation since 2012, and will assume responsibility for the product line Box Vehicles from the beginning of the new fiscal year 2016/2017.
-Andreas Klein has been responsible for the Operations division with responsibility for Production, Logistics and Quality Assurance since April 2015. He also takes over the product lines Platform and Tipper Vehicles.
-Andreas Busacker has been responsible for the Finance division since April 2015, and will take over Group Audits, Central Purchasing, Business Processes / IT, and Human Resources from April 2016.
About Schmitz Cargobull AG
With an annual production of some 45,000* vehicles and around 4,900* employees, Schmitz Cargobull AG is Europe's leading manufacturer of semi-trailers and trailers for temperature-controlled freight, general cargo and bulk goods. The company achieved sales of €1.6* billion in the 2014/2015 business year. As a pioneer in the industry, the North German company developed a comprehensive brand strategy early on and consistently established quality standards spanning every level: from research and development, to production and specialist services such as trailer telematics, financing, used vehicles, spare parts and Full Service.
*Figures based on the 2014/2015 business year
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The Schmitz Cargobull Board: (from left to right) Andreas Busacker, Roland Klement, Andreas Schmitz, Boris Billich, Andreas Klein.
The Schmitz Cargobull Press Team:
Gerd Rohrsen:Tel.: +49/2558/ 81-1323
Silke Hesener -1501
Fax: +49/2558/ 81-1287
E-mail:
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