The Supervisory Board of Stabilus SE has resolved to propose Dr. Frank Heinricht for election to the Supervisory Board at the Annual General Meeting scheduled for February 4, 2026. This leadership transition marks a significant development for one of the world's leading suppliers of motion control solutions, with potential implications for the company's strategic direction across multiple industries including mobility, industrial machinery, automation, and energy.
Dr. Heinricht would succeed Dr. Stephan Kessel, whose term will expire at the end of the 2026 Annual General Meeting after three planned terms. The succession follows a structured selection process conducted by the Remuneration and Nomination Committee led by Dr. Ralf-Michael Fuchs. The selection considered both the Supervisory Board's composition objectives and its overall competence profile and diversity concept, indicating a deliberate approach to governance continuity.
Dr. Heinricht brings over thirty years of executive experience across the metal, specialty glass, and electrical industries. His most recent position as Chair of the Board of Management at Schott AG from 2013 to 2024 included overseeing the successful initial public offering of Schott Pharma AG in 2023. Prior to that, he served on the Management Board of Heraeus Holding GmbH from 2003 to 2013, including six years as Chair of the Management Board. His earlier career included leadership roles at ATMEL Germany GmbH and Temic Telefunken microelectronic.
The proposed leadership change carries importance for Stabilus stakeholders given the company's position as a global industrial supplier with EUR 1.3 billion in revenues during the 2024 fiscal year and eight thousand employees worldwide. Under Dr. Kessel's tenure, Stabilus has grown both organically and through strategic acquisitions, including the recent acquisition of Destaco, positioning the company for continued future growth in motion control solutions.
Dr. Heinricht's extensive supervisory board experience includes serving as Deputy Chair of the Advisory Board of the Wurth Group for approximately 15 years, along with membership on the advisory board of Schwarz Unternehmenstreuhand KG and the supervisory board of B. Braun SE. This diverse governance background suggests he could provide valuable perspective to Stabilus's oversight and strategic planning.
Dr. Kessel expressed satisfaction with his tenure, noting that the company's achievements "pave the way for continued growth in the future." He emphasized that Dr. Heinricht would bring "extensive expertise and leadership" to the Supervisory Board role. Dr. Fuchs added that the selection process carefully addressed succession planning and expressed confidence that Dr. Heinricht's "extensive management experience and broad market and innovation expertise" would provide valuable impetus for Stabilus's further development.
The leadership transition matters because supervisory board composition directly influences corporate governance quality and strategic oversight at major industrial companies. For more information about Stabilus's corporate structure and governance, visit https://group.stabilus.com. Investors can access additional financial and corporate information through https://ir.stabilus.com.
The invitation to the Annual General Meeting where this election will take place will be published in mid-December 2025. The outcome of this proposed leadership change could have broader implications for the motion control solutions industry and Stabilus's competitive positioning in global markets.
