Semperit AG Holding’s Supervisory Board has appointed Richard Kelsey as a member of the Executive Board and Chief Financial Officer, effective November 1, 2026, the Vienna-based company announced. Kelsey will succeed Helmut Sorger, who is leaving the company by mutual agreement at the end of October 2026 after more than four years in the role to pursue new professional opportunities.
The appointment matters for investors and industry observers because Semperit, a publicly listed manufacturer of elastomer products with around 4,000 employees and 15 production sites worldwide, is entering what its leadership describes as a next phase of growth. Kelsey brings more than 25 years of international experience in finance, mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets. At Constantia Flexibles, a leading flexible packaging provider, he served as CFO for more than five years, overseeing numerous international transactions and transformation projects. Before that, he was Head of M&A at the same group, and he previously managed cross-border M&A projects at Raiffeisen Investment and worked as an equity analyst at Cazenove in London.
“With Richard Kelsey, we have gained a CFO who combines extensive M&A expertise with in-depth knowledge of the capital markets,” said Supervisory Board Chairman Cord Prinzhorn. “Together with Manfred Stanek and Gerfried Eder, our Executive Board is exceptionally well-positioned to successfully shape Semperit’s next phase of growth. Our shared goal is to further strengthen the company’s position and thus create additional long-term value for our shareholders.” Kelsey’s term on the Executive Board will run until 31 October 2029.
Prinzhorn credited Sorger with helping to drive Semperit’s transformation and successful realignment, highlighting his focus on lean structures, cost discipline, and value creation, which the chairman said has sustainably strengthened the group’s profitability and competitiveness. The boost in profitability in the current 2026 financial year reflects that course, Prinzhorn added. The leadership change comes as Semperit continues to operate through its two divisions, Semperit Industrial Applications and Semperit Engineered Applications, serving industrial customers in over 100 countries. In the 2025 financial year, the group generated revenue of EUR 662.4 million and EBITDA of EUR 79.5 million.
For readers tracking the company, the transition at the CFO position could influence how Semperit evaluates acquisitions, capital allocation, and its investment story. Kelsey’s background in M&A and capital markets aligns with the board’s stated focus on growth and shareholder value. The full announcement is available through www.newmediawire.com, and more information about the company can be found at www.semperitgroup.com.
