Rob Smith, a U.S and German citizen, will change into the brand new CEO of KION Group AG. The Supervisory Board of the MDAX-listed intralogistics group has appointed the 56-year-old to succeed long-serving CEO Gordon Riske, efficient January 01, 2022, with the same old three-year contract time period for preliminary appointments.
Riske will depart the Govt Board on December 31, 2021 – six months earlier than the top of his contract on reaching the common age restrict of 65. He’ll proceed to serve his successor and the corporate as an advisor through the interval till his authentic contract expires.
“We’re very happy to have gained one of many highest-profile world prime managers within the capital items business with confirmed capital market, M&A in addition to digitalization expertise for the KION Group. Rob Smith brings all of the expertise and management to seamlessly proceed the KION Group’s progress technique,” stated Michael Macht, Chairman of the Supervisory Board. “I’m grateful to Gordon Riske for actively contributing to a easy, long-term succession after 14 very profitable years on the helm of the Group.”
Rob Smith stated, “For a few years, I’ve adopted the KION Group’s profitable journey below Gordon Riske’s management. As one of many market leaders, the corporate since its basis has been defining the event of its business, which is formed by the megatrends of automation, digitalization and vitality. My purpose is to offer our prospects with decisive aggressive benefits by main merchandise, options and companies, thus persevering with the spectacular success of the KION Group with full dedication and vitality. I’m very a lot wanting ahead to working with the Supervisory Board, with my new colleagues on the Govt Board and with all 38,000 men and women within the KION household to guide this very profitable and powerful industrial Group in its subsequent section of progress. This thrilling firm has monumental potential for the longer term.”
Rob Smith is at the moment President & CEO of the publicly listed Finnish group Konecranes, a number one worldwide producer of commercial cranes and container port automation. From 2013 to 2019, he was Senior Vice President & Normal Supervisor Europe, Africa and Center East of the worldwide agricultural equipment firm AGCO Company. Previous to that, he held administration positions in automotive provide and capital items firms within the U.S., France and Germany. Smith holds a BSE in Techniques Engineering from Princeton College, an MBA in Worldwide Operations & Finance from the College of Texas at Austin – Pink McCombs Faculty of Enterprise. He earned his Dr.rer.pol. diploma from the WHU – Otto Beisheim Faculty of Administration after graduating with a grasp’s diploma in enterprise administration and a dissertation on provide chain administration.
On the finish of July, the KION Group had reported considerably improved ends in all key efficiency indicators for the primary half of 2021 in contrast with the identical interval final yr. Within the first six months of the present fiscal yr, the Group achieved robust progress so as consumption and income with a considerably overproportional enchancment in earnings, to which each segments, Industrial Vehicles & Providers (ITS) and Provide Chain Options (SCS), contributed. Mixed with a optimistic outlook for 2021 as a complete according to the present forecasts for the worldwide financial system and, particularly, the KION Group’s rising optimistic income efficiency for the rest of the yr, the KION Group additionally elevated its forecast targets for 2021 as a complete.
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