M.Wassenberg (left) Photo: Linde MH
The Supervisory Board of the Kion Group has appointed Christian Harm (55) as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) with immediate effect. Marcus Wassenberg, who is leaving the company by mutual agreement and at his own request, is departing. He had only taken on the role in October 2022.
The separation comes as a surprise. Wassenberg had only joined Kion a few months ago from Heidelberg Printing Machines, where he was responsible for the successful implementation of a comprehensive transformation program to improve the company's financial stability and competitiveness. Previously, he was CFO at Rolls-Royce Power Systems and Senvion.
Years of experience
According to the Kion Group, Harm, the successor, has proven himself a successful leader within Kion and its predecessor company for over two decades, playing a crucial role in key strategic projects such as Kion's IPO in 2013 and the acquisition of Dematic in 2016. From 2006 to 2012, he headed Group Procurement and subsequently took over the management of the Group Strategy department. In 2019, he became Executive Vice President Finance and Operations, and then, from 2021, Executive Vice President Finance, assuming responsibility for the finances of Kion ITS EMEA, the Group's most profitable business.
Chr. Harm. Photo: Kion
“Christian Harm has proven his ability to significantly shape and implement complex problems of company-wide importance. We thank Marcus Wassenberg for his commitment and his successful initiatives to increase the Group’s profitability and further develop the necessary processes. At the same time, he championed an active and trusting dialogue with the capital market. We regret his departure,” says Hans Peter Ring, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Kion Group.
“His successor has known customers, markets, and employees for many years, both from the perspectives of corporate headquarters and operational business. He recently played a key role in increasing the Group’s profitability. For this reason, he is the ideal candidate for the position of Chief Financial Officer,” said Kion CEO Rob Smith, who also thanked Marcus Wassenberg for his excellent collaboration. “He provided tangible impetus and thus contributed to the Group’s successful development.”.
Wassenberg is leaving the company at his own request. Following differing opinions on matters of corporate management, he reached an amicable agreement with the supervisory board and terminated his work for the group with immediate effect.
