Press Release
Corporate Jul 16, 2018 3:00 PM
Professor Dr. Ulrich Lehner resigns as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of thyssenkrupp AG
Today Professor Dr. Ulrich Lehner (72) informed the Executive Board of thyssenkrupp AG that he will resign from his office as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of thyssenkrupp AG as of July 31, 2018 and that he will withdraw from the Supervisory Board.
Professor Dr. Ulrich Lehner: “Today I have decided to resign from my office as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of thyssenkrupp. The confidence of the major shareholders and a joint understanding within the Supervisory Board on the strategic direction of thyssenkrupp were the basis for my work and a pre-requisite for my promise to Berthold Beitz to successfully further develop the company in the interest of customers, employees and shareholders. This is now no longer given.
I take this step consciously to enable a fundamental discussion with our shareholders on the future of thyssenkrupp. My decision may contribute to creating the necessary awareness with all concerned parties that a break-up of the company and the related loss of many jobs is not an option – neither in the interest of the founder, nor in the interest of the country.”
Guido Kerkhoff, Chairman of the Executive Board of thyssenkrupp AG: “The Executive Board regrets the resignation of Ulrich Lehner and thanks him for the trustful collaboration. With his calm and reliable leadership of the Supervisory Board he reconciled the interests of shareholders and employees at all times. He always supported the Board with his valuable entrepreneurial advice – also in challenging times – and thereby made the implementation of the Strategic Way Forward and the steel joint venture with Tata possible.”
Professor Dr. Ulrich Lehner has been a member of the Supervisory Board of thyssenkrupp AG since 2008, initially as a delegated member of the Supervisory Board for the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach-Stiftung. After the resignation of Dr. Gerhard Cromme he took over as Chairman of the Supervisory Board in a difficult time for the company at the request of Berthold Beitz.
The Supervisory Board will decide on the succession of Professor Dr. Ulrich Lehneras Chairman of the Supervisory Board shortly.