Dr. Joerg Wolle, President & CEO, will change to the Chair of the Board of Directors of DKSH in 2017. This long-planned decision sends an important signal for continuity, foresight and confidence in further growth of the DKSH Group.
Media release
Zurich, Switzerland, March 3, 2016 − DKSH Holding Ltd. sets the long-term course for a major transition at the top of the company. Dr. Joerg Wolle, President & CEO of DKSH, will become Chairman of the Board of Directors in the course of 2017. The long-standing Chairman of the Board, Adrian T. Keller as well as Andreas W. Keller, representing the family shareholders in the fourth generation, will retain active roles within the Board of Directors. The company thus continues its strategy of introducing and implementing significant changes and developments at an early stage, and communicating them in an open manner.
Joerg Wolle, after more than 26 years of operational responsibility with the Group – of which 18 years as CEO – will assume the function of Chairman of the Board, taking over from his predecessor. By that time, a structured process will have identified and named a successor to Joerg Wolle as CEO.
Adrian T. Keller, Chairman of DKSH's Board of Directors, noted: “For us at DKSH it has always been important to introduce major changes at an early stage, with foresight and transparency for our key stakeholders. Both the Board of Directors and I personally are extremely pleased that Joerg Wolle is following our request to then assume the Chair of the Board of Directors. We can't think of anyone better suited for the position. With this move we are securing both the competence and the continuity that are essential for our further growth.”
Dr. Joerg Wolle observed: „A predictable and dependable DKSH is of important long-term value for our clients and customers globally, as well as for our management and our employees. We always introduce changes early and in a transparent manner. This is particularly important in the case of the company's leadership. I am very pleased that we at DKSH have now the opportunity to implement this process without any time pressure and fully aligned with the interests of the company. I would also like to thank Adrian Keller and the Board of Directors for entrusting the long-standing CEO with the function of Chairman of the Board of DKSH, thereby reflecting the unique culture of trust and cooperation that exists within our organization.”
Joerg Wolle added: “Until then, a lot of work and significant challenges await us all. The current markets are anything but easy, but as in previous years and despite all turbulences, we remain confident of our ability to sustainably expand our unique position in the markets.”
Effective May 3, 2016, Joerg Wolle will also assume the responsibility of Chairman of the Board of Kuehne & Nagel International AG, Schindellegi, Switzerland. In doing so, he is fulfilling the request of the majority shareholder of Kuehne & Nagel International AG, Mr. Klaus-Michael Kühne. Wolle has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2010, and its Vice Chairman since 2013. Kuehne & Nagel as a leading logistics company and DKSH as a Market Expansion Services provider have been collaborating closely for a number of years. The Board of Directors of DKSH has agreed to Joerg Wolle taking on this function. Moreover, he is a member of the Supervisory Board of the privately-held Louis Dreyfus Commodities BV headquartered in Amsterdam.
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About DKSH Group
DKSH is the leading Market Expansion Services provider with a focus on Asia. As the term "Market Expansion Services" suggests, DKSH helps other companies and brands to grow their business in new or existing markets. Publicly listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 2012, DKSH is a global company headquartered in Zurich. With 770 business locations in 36 countries – 740 of them in Asia – and 28,300 specialized staff, DKSH generated net sales of CHF 10.1 billion in 2015.
DKSH was founded in 1865. With strong Swiss heritage, the company has a long tradition of doing business in and with Asia and is deeply rooted in communities and businesses across Asia Pacific.