Freudenberg Sealing Technologies COO retiring

Weinheim, Germany – Freudenberg Sealing Technologies’ (FST) chief operating officer (COO) Dieter Schaefer will retire at the end of June, the company announced 17 May.

Schaefer, praised for his contributions to Freudenberg’s focus on quality and digitalisation, will continue working as a consultant for another two years.

“The concepts of operational excellence and continuous improvement in manufacturing have been inseparably associated with Schaefer at FST,” said chief executive officer Claus Möhlenkamp.

Under his leadership, FST increased performance capability and manufacturing efficiency through the use of such methods as lean and Six Sigma, Möhlenkamp added.

Schaefer, who joined as a plant manager in 2001, also played a lead-role in introducing digitalisation and standardised purchasing at FST.

Following the COO’s retirement, the FST board of management will be restructured from four to three members.

Möhlenkamp will continue as CEO with responsibility for strategy, sales, human resources and communication.

Dr Theodore Duclos, chief technology officer (CTO), will take over Schaefer’s responsibilities as COO and will direct the operations, lean, supply chain management and purchasing areas.

Ludger Neuwinger-Heimes will continue as chief financial officer (CFO) in charge of finance, IT and mergers & acquisitions.