The automotive industry is in a phase of transition. Changing consumer preferences and new concepts of mobility are strengthening demand in many of GG Group's fields of activity, in particular e-mobility, autonomous driving and digitalization. Negative influencing factors such as rising raw material and energy prices require automotive supply companies to align with new customer needs and industry conditions. GG Group already responded to this at the end of last year by changing its board structure. The next step is the implementation of a multiannual and multidimensional transformation process, starting with a review of the current organization and resource allocation. Among other things, the company has set itself the goal of reducing the ratio of personnel costs to expected revenues. Further project steps include, for example, the optimization of production processes and all value streams of the company.
Eva Schinkinger, CFO since 2012 and CEO since 2016, will leave the company at her own initiative on March 31, 2023, to pursue new opportunities. "After 28 years of active professional assignment for GG and a total of 11 years on the Executive Board, I have chosen this time to hand over my CEO function in consultation with the shareholders, as I am convinced that I can contribute to a positive process development at GG by simplifying the leadership structure, especially at the beginning of the transformation phase," says Eva Schinkinger, who will continue to support the company in an advisory role.
Arno Haselhorst, who took over the management of all global Wires and Harness plants as COO at the end of 2022 and is also responsible for the planning and implementation of comprehensive restructuring measures as CRO, is additionally appointed CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board as of April 1, 2023. He will thus be in charge of all the agendas of his predecessor Eva Schinkinger: Finance, Treasury, Purchasing, IT, Corporate Development, Human Resources, Legal, as well as Marketing and Communications.
Holger Fastabend, who has held an executive role at GG since 2016 and has been part of the Group-wide Executive Board as CSO/CTO since 2019, expanded his previous area of responsibility around Sales, Development and Innovation to include the functions of Quality Management, Footprint Management, Lean Management and Manufacturing Engineering as of the end of 2022. "I explicitly welcome the transformation process we have now initiated and look forward to actively shaping it in the spirit of the greatest possible continuity and service orientation for our customers," explains Holger Fastabend.
The launch of the transformation phase was actively initiated by the shareholders of GG Group and is a clear commitment to the company and its potential in the future. Friederike Jacquelin on behalf of the shareholders "The handover of Eva Schinkinger to a potential successor had already been mutually prepared in a cooperative manner for a long time and could now be implemented after overcoming the last two years of crisis through the assignment of Arno Haselhorst as Eva Schinkinger's successor managing director in addition to Holger Fastabend. We respect the personal decision of Mrs. Schinkinger and thank her explicitly for the long years of constructive and successful cooperation."
About GG Group (Gebauer & Griller)
We, GG Group, are a global group of companies that has been producing technically high-quality cables, wires and harnesses for the automotive industry and various industrial sectors for more than 80 years.
We focus on e-mobility, autonomous driving and digitalization, being important drivers of innovation and development in our industry. Cutting-edge technology is what GG is about and a result of being a pioneer and innovator in energy and data transmission for many years.
Good is not enough for us. We strive for excellence in everything we do and therefore we are not satisfied until we achieve the best. Together with our customers, we work with passion to develop innovative and intelligent solutions for their challenges.
Our success is based on providing high-quality products but also on our strong focus on everybody involved in this process. With more than 4000 employees at 11 locations worldwide, GG Group is one of Austria's most successful family-owned industrial companies.
Contact
Dr. Irene Pfundner, MBA
Gebauer & Griller Kabelwerke Gesellschaft m.b.H.
Muthgasse 36
1190 Vienna
T: +43 1 360 20 – 0
presse@gg-group.com
