GEA Group restructures Executive Board amid extending CEO contract
GEA expects cost savings to begin in 2026 as a result of these changes.
GERMANY – GEA Group, a leading global supplier of technology and components to the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries, has announced a significant restructuring of its Executive Board along with an early extension of CEO Stefan Klebert’s contract until the end of 2028.
This strategic move aims to streamline leadership, drive operational efficiency, and position the company firmly for long-term growth.
Effective January 1, 2026, GEA’s Executive Board will expand from three to six members. The new board structure will separate leadership roles into clearly defined divisional areas, replacing the current matrix system with more direct oversight.
These six board areas will include three divisional heads aligned with core business sectors and three functional roles focused on Labor, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), and Legal affairs.
The restructuring will dissolve GEA’s 14-member Global Executive Committee, consolidating decision-making into the streamlined Executive Board.
Key internal appointments have been made to head the new divisions:
Alexander Kocherscheidt will join as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He will succeed Bernd Brinker, who will leave GEA effective 31 October 2025, by mutual consent.
A new People & Sustainability Executive Board area will be led by Dr Nadine Sterley, encompassing HR, sustainability, and legal functions.
Other divisional heads include executives responsible for Pure Flow Processing to be headed by Kai Becker.
The Heating & Refrigeration Technologies Division will be merged into Nutrition Plant Engineering to be headed by Klaus Stojentin, and the Food & Healthcare Technologies Division is renamed Pharma & Food Applications Division to be headed by Peter Lauwers.
The Farm Technologies Division will continue to be led by Dr Andreas Seeringer and report directly to Klebert.
CEO Stefan Klebert will assume broader responsibilities, including purchasing, overseeing growth markets such as India and China, and managing the Farm Technologies division, which accounts for around 13% of group sales.
Klebert’s contract extension is seen positively by investors given his pivotal role in stabilizing earnings growth in recent years.
The restructuring affects roughly 100 staff members, mostly direct reports, with 10-20 management departures anticipated.
GEA expects cost savings to begin in 2026 as a result of these changes.
This major reorganization and leadership extension symbolize GEA’s commitment to agility, operational excellence, and future profitability by simplifying structures and accelerating decision-making closer to markets.
While the reform reflects confidence in Klebert’s vision, some analysts note concerns over CFO and COO departures and their impact on the company’s 2030 margin targets.
GEA’s new Executive Board creates a more focused governance framework to enhance responsiveness and competitiveness across its globally diversified businesses.
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