Henkel has announced that the current CEO Hans Van Bylen, for personal reasons, will not be available for a further term after about 35 years with the company, including about 15 years on the Management Board and 4 years as its CEO. He will therefore hand over the position as CEO to his successor Carsten Knobel effective January 1, 2020. Carsten Knobel joined Henkel in 1995 and has been on the Management Board since 2012, responsible for Finance, Purchasing and Integrated Business Solutions. His succession as Chief Financial Officer is still to be decided.
"After about 35 years with Henkel, I have decided that with the expiration of my contract next year it is now the right time to make an orderly change at the top of the company. For personal reasons, I will not seek a further term as Chairman of the Management Board. I would like to thank all employees and my colleagues in the Management Board for their dedication and commitment over the past years, as well as all members of our supervisory committees for their support and advice", said Hans Van Bylen. "I am also glad that we were able to appoint Carsten Knobel from within our Management Board as successor and CEO. I am convinced that Henkel will continue to develop successfully under his leadership."
The Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board and Shareholders' Committee, Dr. Simone Bagel-Trah, thanked Hans Van Bylen on behalf of the committees and the Henkel family for his services to the company: "Hans Van Bylen has made a significant contribution to the successful development of our company over the years and has actively developed numerous senior leaders," said Dr. Simone Bagel-Trah.
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