On the evening of the 22nd of August, the Supervisory Board of Zumtobel AG accepted the resignations of CEO Harald Sommerer and CFO Mathias Dähn effective 30 September 2013. This step had been preceded in recent months by intensive discussions on the future strategic direction of the Zumtobel Group. During these discussions it emerged that the two board members and the Supervisory Board held different views on the operational implementation of the global growth strategy during the important phase of the technology shift to LEDs. The Supervisory Board thanked the two board members for their efforts on the company’s behalf.

Ulrich Schumacher. By Zumtobel Presse (Zumtobel Presse) [see page for license], via Wikimedia Commons

Thereafter, Ulrich Schumacher was appointed CEO of Zumtobel AG with effect from 1 October 2013. His term of office runs until 30 April 2017. The search for a new CFO has been commissioned and is expected to be concluded in the next few months. In the interim, Ulrich Schumacher has also been appointed CFO of Zumtobel AG. In this role he will be assisted by the company’s proven finance team.

The Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Zumtobel AG, Jürg Zumtobel, expressed his pleasure at the appointment of Ulrich Schumacher as new Chief Executive Officer. Speaking about his appointment, Ulrich Schumacher said: “For decades now the Zumtobel Group has been a world-leading high-tech company in the future-oriented lighting market segment. I am really looking forward to joining with the workforce and the Supervisory Board to shape the future of this company from now on. I am honored that the Supervisory Board has entrusted me with this task.”