Board of Directors appoints Thomas Oetterli as new CEO.
Norbert Klapper, who has led Rieter as CEO for nine years, has informed the Board of Directors that he wishes to take on new professional challenges. The Board of Directors of Rieter Holding has taken note of Norbert Klapper’s resignation, expressing its gratitude for his service to Rieter. The Board of Directors has appointed Thomas Oetterli as his successor as CEO of Rieter.
Oetterli has made a significant contribution to the successful development of the world-leading Schindler Group, starting in 2006 as CEO Switzerland, later as a member of the Group Executive Committee responsible for Europe and China, and from 2016 until 2022 as CEO of the Group. With his comprehensive leadership skills and many years of industrial and international experience, Oetterli brings ideal prerequisites to lead Rieter as a global market leader through the current challenges and successfully develop it further in the long term. He will take over the function of CEO from Klapper on March 13, 2023.
The Board of Directors would like to thank Klapper for his many years of hard work for Rieter and his lasting contribution to the company, particularly in terms of further strengthening its technology leadership, developing the components and service business, completing the systems offering, and wishes him all the best for the future, both professionally and personally. Following his departure as CEO, he will be available to the Chairman of the Board of Directors as Senior Advisor until the end of September 2023.
Thomas Oetterli also proposed as member of the Board of Directors
In the course of the intensive talks with Oetterli that led to his appointment as CEO of Rieter, the Board of Directors came to the conclusion that, with his proven strategic competencies, extensive industrial experience and international network of contacts, he would also make important contributions to Rieter’s Board of Directors and strengthen its overall profile. As Chairman of the Board of Directors of SFS, an industrial company in Switzerland, he is also familiar with the international industrial environment from the perspective of another globally active Swiss industrial company.
In view of the current challenges Rieter is facing in the current economic and market situation, which require close cooperation between the Board of Directors and the Group Executive Committee, the Board of Directors considers a dual function of Oetterli as CEO and member of the Board of Directors to be advantageous and in the interest of all stakeholders. It will therefore propose Oetterli for election as a member of the Board of Directors at the upcoming Annual General Meeting on April 20, 2023.