The family-owned Lemken company in Germany is reorganizing its management structure into a three-member management team. Thus, the company aims to safeguard and reinforce its expertise for future challenges and for the generation to come.
Lemken has traditionally had a lean structure with a managing director and division managers for development, production, sales and finance. This reorganization step is intended to respond to the dynamic development of the industry, global challenges and marked opportunities, as well as being prepared for the next generation.
Alongside the current CEO and management spokesman Anthony van der Ley (61), who focuses on sales and strategic projects, technical expertise and experience in the areas of technology and commercial management will be supplemented.
“We are delighted to have gained a proven expert for the position of Chief Technology Officer (CTO)”, said shareholder Nicola Lemken, introducing Dr Thomas Lange-Stalinski. The 53-year-old mechanical engineer has extensive experience as an operational managing director from several renowned industrial companies (automotive and suppliers) of varying sizes. From 1 November onwards, Dr Lange-Stalinski will be responsible for the Development, Plant, Purchasing, Supply Chain and Quality Management divisions and will be the direct contact person for the respective division managers.
Strengthening commercial management
Klaus Kuhl is now responsible for the finance, human resources and IT divisions as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). As an experienced and internationally active financial director in medium-sized companies, the 54-year old also has in-depth IT and SAP experience. Dr Geoffery Weisner, the current CFO, will leave the company by mutual agreement to pursue new opportunities.
Since May, an advisory board has existed that advises the management team and provides strategic support. In addition to Nicola Lemken as chair, the committee currently includes two external managers with many years of international experience: Jürgen Altena, a business graduate with expertise in finance and corporate management, and Axel Meyer, an industrial engineer specializing in development and technology.
Shareholder Nicola Lemken, who will continue to be closely involved in day-to-day business as the seventh generation in the family business, is certain that this new professional structure and the resulting rejuvenation of the management committee is the right step forward for employees and customer quality.
