A press release from the company dated 28 October 2021 states that Heidelberg’s Supervisory Board has appointed Dr Ludwin Monz (58) as the new CEO to succeed Rainer Hundsdörfer (65). Ludwin Monz will take over from Hundsdörfer at the start of the new financial year on 1 April 2022.
“The Supervisory Board of Heidelberg would like to thank Rainer Hundsdörfer for his extraordinary commitment as CEO of the company. He has succeeded in steering the company successfully through the Covid-19 crisis, while at the same time setting the course for the company’s further strategic development and establishing new business such as eMobility,” said Dr Martin Sonnenschein, chairman of the Supervisory Board.
For his part, Rainer Hundsdörfer acknowledged the trusting cooperation with the Supervisory Board as well as within the company. “These have been very challenging years here at Heidelberg. We successfully defied the pandemic and strategically realigned Heidelberg through our successful transformation. I am proud to be part of the Heidelberg family. I wish my successor Ludwin Monz a good start to the new financial year and continued success.”
Dr Ludwin Monz is chairman of the Management Board of MDAX-listed Carl Zeiss Meditec until the end of 31 December 2021. “With the appointment of Ludwin Monz, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen is gaining a suitable face to drive forward its strategic realignment,” emphasizes Dr Martin Sonnenschein. “He is a proven expert in high technology and innovation with capital market experience.”
Heidelberg’s new chief executive officer experience cycle
Dr Monz has been a member of the Management Board of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG since 2007 and has been chairman of the Management Board since 2010. He was also appointed to the Group Management Board of Carl Zeiss with effect from 1 January 2014. After studying and obtaining a doctorate in physics at the University of Mainz, Dr Monz went on to the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, USA, and the Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung GSI, in Darmstadt, where he worked as a scientist. He is also an MBA graduate of Henley Management College in the UK. In 1994, he joined ZEISS as a scientist. Two years later, he became head of Geodetic Systems Development, then overall head of the business unit. In 2000, he then moved to the Medical Technology division of ZEISS.
Looking ahead to his new role, Dr Ludwin Monz comments, For me, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen is a flagship of German mechanical engineering. I see enormous potential for the future in the broad expertise of its employees, its widely branched global organization, and its long-established brand.”
In addition, it is planned to extend the Management Board contract with chief financial officer Marcus A Wassenberg until 2027 as scheduled. With this decision, Heidelberg is relying on continuity with regard to the financial stability achieved and the strategic realignment initiated by the successful transformation. “Under the direct leadership of Marcus A Wassenberg, Heidelberg’s transformation program has been successfully implemented. Measures introduced are showing measurable success. We look forward to a successful future together,” said Dr Martin Sonnenschein.
