DGAP-News: KION GROUP AG / Key word(s): Change of Personnel
KION Group to pursue Strategy 2020 with streamlined management
structure (news with additional features)
14.01.2015 / 19:20
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KION Group to pursue Strategy 2020 with streamlined management structure
KION Group CEO Gordon Riske is to take over the additional role as CEO of
the brand companies Linde MH and STILL
Bert-Jan Knoef and Theodor Maurer are, at their own request, leaving the
Executive Board of KION GROUP AG and the management boards of STILL and
Linde MH respectively
Shortening decision-making processes - making greater use of synergies -
accelerating growth
Record results expected for 2014
Wiesbaden, 14 January 2015 - The KION Group shortens its decision-making
processes, leverages cross-brand synergies even more effectively and drives
profitable growth by implementing a streamlined management structure. In
addition to his role as Chief Executive Officer of KION GROUP AG, Gordon
Riske is to take over as CEO of the brand companies Linde Material Handling
GmbH and STILL GmbH. The previous CEOs, Theodor Maurer and Bert-Jan Knoef,
will also, at their own request, leave the Executive Board of KION GROUP AG
with effect of today.
"The KION Group is expecting record results for 2014 that will fulfil its
ambitious guidance. Mr Knoef and Mr Maurer played a major part in this
successful development of the KION Group," says John Feldmann, Chairman of
the Supervisory Board of KION GROUP AG. The supervisory boards of KION
GROUP AG, Linde Material Handling GmbH and STILL GmbH thank Theodor Maurer
and Bert-Jan Knoef for their many years of successful work for the KION
Group and its brand companies Linde and STILL.
"In 2015, we aim to create the management structures that will enable the
KION Group to successfully implement its Strategy 2020. This includes being
able to make decisions faster," says Gordon Riske. "We are looking to
further improve our cost and competitive position and to accelerate growth
in all markets - including our European home market." On the basis of the
successful multi-brand strategy, the KION Group not only aims to remain the
top player in the industrial trucks sector in terms of profitability, but
also to close the gap to the leading companies in the capital goods
industry. At the same time, the company, one of the world's two leading
suppliers of forklift trucks, warehouse technology and associated services,
plans to increase its capital efficiency and to become more resilient to be
able to better cope with economic crises that may occur in future.
By integrating research and development activities even more closely, KION
will be able to more quickly leverage cross-brand synergies going forward.
Knowledge and expertise is to be shared even more throughout the Group. The
pooling of resources should help to ensure the KION brands Linde, STILL,
Baoli, Fenwick, OM STILL and Voltas have access to the best possible
technical solutions in regard to components, modules and platforms. The aim
is to create specific products that are optimally tailored to different
markets and segments around the world. Riske: "In the KION Group's future
organisational structure, there should be an even stronger focus on the
requirements of our customers."
Production is to be optimised and, at the same time, brought closer to the
KION Group's global markets. In addition, the company also wants to further
strengthen the sales and service organisation and ensure its activities are
focused on fulfilling customer needs in the best way possible. There are
also plans to step up groupwide collaboration in administrative functions.
More efficient structures should simplify and accelerate decision-making
processes.
Riske: "In 2015, by pursuing our well-proven multi-brand strategy, we will
be taking the next major step towards the KION Group becoming a highly
effective, globally successful capital goods company."
Website: kiongroup.com/mediasite
Twitter: @kion_group
The Company
The KION Group - comprising the six brands of Linde, STILL, Fenwick, OM
STILL, Baoli and Voltas - is the largest manufacturer of industrial trucks
in western and eastern Europe, the global number two in the industry and
the leading non-domestic supplier in China. The Linde and STILL brands
serve the premium segment worldwide. Fenwick is the largest supplier of
material handling products in France, while OM STILL is a market leader in
Italy. The Baoli brand focuses on the economy segment, and Voltas is a
leading provider of industrial trucks in India. The KION Group is present
in more than 100 countries and, in 2013, employed over 22,000 people and
generated revenue of EUR4.5 billion. KION GROUP AG has been listed on
Deutsche Börse's Frankfurt Stock Exchange since June 2013 and was admitted
to the MDAX, the German stock index for medium-sized companies, in
September 2014.
Disclaimer
This document and the information contained herein are for information
purposes only and do not constitute a prospectus or an offer to sell or a
solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States or in
any other jurisdiction.
This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to
various risks and uncertainties. Future results could differ materially
from those described in these forward-looking statements due to certain
factors, e.g. changes in business, economic and competitive conditions,
regulatory reforms, results of technical studies, foreign exchange rate
fluctuations, uncertainties in litigation or investigative proceedings, and
the availability of financing. We do not undertake any responsibility to
update the forward-looking statements in this release.
Further information for the media
Michael Hauger
Head of Corporate Communications
Tel.: +49 (0)611 770 655
michael.hauger@kiongroup.com
Frank Brandmaier
Head of Corporate Media Relations
Tel.: +49 (0)611 770 752
frank.brandmaier@kiongroup.com
Further information for investors
Frank Herzog
Head of Corporate Finance
Tel.: +49 (0)611 770 303
frank.herzog@kiongroup.com
Dr Karoline Jung-Senssfelder
Head of Investor Relations and M&A
Tel.: +49 (0)611 770 450
karoline.jung-senssfelder@kiongroup.com
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Additional features:
Document: http://n.equitystory.com/c/fncls.ssp?u=LWKTYBVJRO
Document title: Download Press Release as PDF
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14.01.2015 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a
service of EQS Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de
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Language: English
Company: KION GROUP AG
Abraham-Lincoln-Str. 21
65189 Wiesbaden
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)611 770-0
Fax: +49 (0)611 770-690
E-mail: info@kiongroup.com
Internet: www.kiongroup.com
ISIN: DE000KGX8881
WKN: KGX888
Indices: MDAX
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard);
Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover,
München, Stuttgart
End of News DGAP News-Service
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313381 14.01.2015
DGAP-News: KION Group to pursue Strategy 2020 with streamlined management structure (news with additional features)
| Source: EQS Group AG