Change of Management Board at Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG
![Jens Rottmair](https://www.kaessbohrerag.com/_Resources/Persistent/3/3/3/1/33312fa8b56ff85711c534f369194cb7d7f09356/Kaessbohrer_Eblem.jpg)
Jens Rottmair has informed the Chairman of the Supervisory Board and main shareholder, Ludwig Merckle, that he does not wish to extend his contract for personal reasons. It has now been jointly decided what the transition period should consist of. The departure of Jens Rottmair is scheduled to take place at the end of the current fiscal year 2021/22 on September 30, 2022.
· Jens Rottmair resigns as spokesman of the company after 16 years. The Supervisory Board would like to thank Jens Rottmair for his great services and successes for the company over the past 16 years and the strategic direction of the three-division strategy - PistenBully, BeachTech and PowerBully.
· Jens Rottmair's areas of responsibility on the Executive Board will be managed by Rolf Glessing as interim CEO until the new members of the Executive Board take up their positions.
· Supervisory Board member Wolfgang Hänle will assume the role of operational advisor in the areas of technology, development and operations.
After 16 successful years at Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG, Jens Rottmair's personal reasons are clearly in the foreground when considering all points of view. That is why he is stepping down from his position.
Jens Rottmair joined the company as a member of the Management Board on May 01, 2006 and has been Chairman of the Management Board without interruption since then. During this time, the company has had a very successful development. With a constant market volume, the leadership of Jens Rottmair and the entire management team has succeeded in increasing the global market share to a level of over 60%. He has greatly shaped and influenced the success story of Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG. Mr. Rottmair has reorganized Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG. With the expansion of business activities to the utility sector (tracked vehicles outside the snow), he has set the important course for a broader sales base and thus for securing the future of the company as a 3-division enterprise. New innovative paths were also taken with the main sales driver, the PistenBully. A holistic digital application has been created with SNOWsat, which offers ski resorts worldwide, solutions for their snow and ski area management.
There have been several corporate acquisitions under his leadership that strengthen the strategic direction of the company today and in the future. Jens Rottmair was responsible for development, procurement, production, logistics as well as marketing, sales, service and all foreign subsidiaries.
The Laupheim site has been steadily expanded since it was established in 2002 . Most recently, the customer center was newly built in 2017, the new logistics hall with a high degree of automation in 2019, and the training center in 2020. These important expansions were a clear signal to customers, employees and the market and clearly bear his signature. Under his leadership, the foreign subsidiaries also invested heavily in expanding their sites in the USA, Switzerland and Italy to secure their leading global role.
During the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020, 2021 and to date, Mr. Rottmair and his management team have led the company through difficult economic times. The goal is and always has been to survive the crisis, to take advantage of opportunities as they arise and, above all, to preserve jobs.
The Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Ludwig Merckle, expresses his thanks to Jens Rottmair: "The Supervisory Board expresses its regret that Mr. Rottmair is stepping down. In his 16 years as CEO, Mr. Rottmair has successfully led the company and set the decisive strategic course for the future. However, I have great understanding for his decision today."
Jens Rottmair did not make this final decision lightly: "I am grateful to have had the opportunity to lead a company that has an outstanding image worldwide and operates in the most beautiful regions of the world. I am especially grateful for the support of all employees who are passionate about their products and their company and prove their enthusiasm every day anew and who have always supported me for years. Now my full focus is on my own family."
The Supervisory Board has already initiated a search by a personnel consultant for a successor to the two Executive Board positions for which Mr. Rottmair was responsible. The aim is to find a Management Board member for the Technology division and a Management Board member for the Sales division. Until the two new board members join the company, the former CEO of Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG, Rolf Glessing, will be the new spokesman for Mr. Rottmair's previous board areas and will lead the company together with the CFO & CDO, Mr. Steffen Kaiser. In addition, the Supervisory Board decided that Supervisory Board member Wolfgang Hänle will act as Operating Consultant until a new, dedicated Executive Board member for Technology and Operations is appointed, thus supporting both Executive Board members in day-to-day operations in these areas.