GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft: Marcus A. Ketter appointed new Chief Financial Officer of GEA

DGAP-News: GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft / Key word(s): Personnel GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft: Marcus A. Ketter appointed new Chief Financial Officer of GEA 12.02.2019 / 14:04 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Marcus A. Ketter appointed new Chief Financial Officer of GEA   Marcus A. Ketter from Klöckner & Co SE to take over as CFO on May 20, 2019 Dr. Helmut Schmale set to leave the company as of May 17, 2019 Düsseldorf, February 12, 2019 - The Supervisory Board of GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft has appointed Marcus A. Ketter (50) to the company's Executive Board with effect from May 20, 2019. He is set to succeed the long-standing Chief Financial Officer, Dr. Helmut Schmale (62), who will leave the company as of May 17, 2019. This ties in with the changing of the guard heralded by a new CEO taking the helm of the company. Marcus A. Ketter will join GEA following his stint with Klöckner & Co SE, the steel and metal distributor, where he has been instrumental in shaping the company's performance management in his capacity as CFO over the previous six years. Dr. Helmut Perlet, Chairman of GEA's Supervisory Board, states: "With Marcus A. Ketter, GEA has managed to win over a financial expert with a strong international focus and plenty of experience in capital markets. Moreover, Marcus A. Ketter has a deep knowledge of process optimization as well as digitalization and IT in globally active groups. We are happy that, in addition to our future CEO, Stefan Klebert, we have been able to convince another renowned manger to join GEA's Executive Board. The Supervisory Board is confident that the new leadership team will offer fresh ideas and lead the company into a profitable and sustainable future." Marcus A. Ketter, a graduate economist, started his professional career in 1993 at the STEAG AG power company where he served as controller while managing the board office. In 1999, he joined STEAG RTP Systems Inc. in the USA, a subsidiary specialized in semiconductor manufacture. When this corporate entity was taken over by Mattson Technology Inc., he set up the finance and IR department. Between 2003 and 2011, he held various leadership positions at thyssenkrupp, where his last function was that of CFO Central and Eastern Europe at ThyssenKrupp Elevator GmbH. From 2011 until its takeover by Andritz AG one year later, Ketter held the position of CFO and Labor Director at the industrial group Schuler AG, where he ensured that the company's share was included in the SDAX. Since early 2013, he has served as CFO at Klöckner & Co SE. There he has played a major role in the digitalization of business processes while advancing the performance management of the company. Marcus A. Ketter holds an MBA from Columbia Business School, New York/USA. Stefan Klebert, who is going to take over as CEO of GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft on February 18, 2019, stated: "I am delighted that the Supervisory Board has appointed Marcus A. Ketter as CFO of the company. I have a high regard for him and know him well, not only based on our previous cooperation, but fully cognizant of the respect accorded to him in the capital market. His many years of experience as Chief Financial Officer of listed companies as well as his expertise in performance management will greatly benefit our team." As of May 17, 2019, Dr. Helmut Schmale (62) will hand over responsibility for finances on GEA's Executive Board to Marcus A. Ketter and leave the company. Since 1993, he has held various leadership positions at GEA and was appointed to the Executive Board as CFO in April 2009. Dr. Helmut Perlet also expressed his gratitude to the outgoing Chief Financial Officer: "At this juncture, I would already like to expressly thank Dr. Helmut Schmale on behalf of the entire Supervisory Board for his many years of service for GEA as well as his unwavering, constructive and successful cooperation. In the course of his 25 years with GEA - ten of which as Chief Financial Officer - he has left his mark on the company during its journey to become a globally active player."   Corporate Media and Press: Marc Pönitz Peter-Müller-Str. 12, 40468 Düsseldorf, Germany Phone [phone] [e-mail] About GEA GEA is one of the largest suppliers for the food processing industry and a wide range of other industries that generated consolidated revenues of approximately EUR 4.8 billion in 2018. The international technology group focuses on process technology, components and sustainable energy solutions for sophisticated production processes in various end-user markets. The group generates around 70 percent of its revenue in the food and beverages sector that enjoys long-term sustainable growth. As of December 31, 2017, the company employed about 18,000 people worldwide. GEA is a market and technology leader in its business areas. The company is listed on the German MDAX (G1A, WKN 660 200). In addition, GEA's stock is included in the MSCI Global Sustainability Indexes. Further information is available on the Internet at gea.com. Contact: GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft Phone [phone] Fax [phone] gea.com 12.02.2019 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de

Language:	English
Company:	GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft
	Peter-Müller-Straße 12
	40468 Düsseldorf
	Germany
Phone:	[phone]
Fax:	[phone]
E-mail:	[e-mail]
Internet:	www.gea.com
ISIN:	DE0006602006
WKN:	660200
Indices:	MDAX
Listed:	Regulated Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Hamburg, Munich; Regulated Unofficial Market in Hanover, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange

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