Schmalz expands management: Dr. Johannes Schmalz joins the company

"I'm really looking forward to my new role," says Dr. Johannes Schmalz, who will take on the role of Managing Shareholder with immediate effect. “I have known the company since I was a child and am full of enthusiasm and confidence about actively shaping the future of the company myself.” The 39-year-old will join his father, Dr. Kurt Schmalz, and Andreas Beutel to form a three-member management team.

Dr. Johannes Schmalz most recently worked as an internationally responsible manager in the field of digitalization at a large global family-owned company in the electronics industry. He also has extensive expertise in the areas of IT, robotics and strategy. He is also the founder and shareholder of a successful technology start-up. "I have been through a number of stages and gained valuable experience in various positions: in research, in a start-up, in a large company," says the new Managing Shareholder. "Now is a good time to bring this experience to Schmalz."

Dr. Johannes Schmalz is responsible for IT and digitalization, new business, and corporate strategy – always with the objective of increasing added value for customers. The 39-year-old upholds the values that have shaped Schmalz's culture for decades: “Despite all the economic and technological interests, people must always be at the center of everything we do.”

For Dr. Kurt Schmalz in particular, who joined the company 45 years ago, the arrival of his son has great significance. "I have put my heart and soul into the company my entire professional life and successfully designed it together with my brother Wolfgang," says Dr. Kurt Schmalz. "I will be 70 years old this year. I am particularly pleased that the long-term stability of Schmalz as a family business is permanently safe thanks to Johannes joining the company."

To kick things off, Dr. Johannes Schmalz took a welcome tour through the company premises. The new member of the management team visited the various departments and was warmly welcomed by the 1,800 employees at the Glatten site and via video by employees at Schmalz locations around the world. As a small introductory gift, the doctor of engineering brought chocolates with the Schmalz logo for all employees to ensure an adequate supply of chocolate, as Dr. Johannes Schmalz remarked with a wink.