The Supervisory Board of KION GROUP AG has extended the term of Chief Financial Officer Christian Harm until July 2029. This decision ensures continuity in the Executive Board and strengthens the further development of KION's financial organization. The extension is significant as it provides stability for a major player in global supply chain solutions during a period of ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges.
Mohsen Sohi, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, stated that since taking office in July 2023, Christian Harm has successfully steered and driven KION's financial organization to the next level, significantly contributing to the resilient development of the company during volatile years. Sohi emphasized that Harm's deep knowledge of the capital markets community will ensure continuity and ongoing trustful relationships with all key stakeholders. This leadership is crucial for KION, a MDAX-listed group that is the largest manufacturer of industrial trucks in the EMEA region based on units sold in 2023 and the world's leading provider in the warehouse automation market based on 2023 revenue.
Christian Harm's extended tenure brings over 20 years of experience within KION and its predecessor company Linde AG to the role. He played a crucial role in strategic key projects such as KION's Initial Public Offering in 2013 and the acquisition of Dematic in 2016. His career path within the company includes heading procurement from 2006 to 2012, leading the strategy department until 2018, and serving as Executive Vice President Finance of KION Industrial Trucks & Services in the EMEA region from 2021 until his appointment as CFO. He began his career at Unilever and McKinsey & Company before joining Linde AG in 2003.
The continuity in financial leadership matters for KION's operations and its customers. The company, which shapes world trade by ensuring customers' supply chains reach their full potential, relies on efficient, smart, sustainable, and reliable solutions with real-time traceability. KION's full spectrum of services includes industrial trucks, integrated automation technologies, AI-based solutions, and software. At the end of 2024, more than 1.9 million KION industrial trucks were in use by customers across six continents. The group currently has more than 42,000 employees and generated revenue of approximately EUR 11.5 billion in the 2024 financial year. Based on 2023 revenue, KION is the leading overseas manufacturer in China and the third-largest supplier there overall.
For stakeholders, including investors and the capital markets, the extension signals confidence in the company's financial direction. The decision underscores the importance of experienced leadership in navigating the complex global trade environment where KION operates in over 100 countries. Additional company information and image material can be accessed via the KION image database at https://kion-mediacenter.canto.global/v/MediaCenter/ and on the corporate website.
