Management
The team of our Executive Board (from left): Ching Pong Quek, Andreas Krinninger, Hasan Dandashly, Rob Smith (CEO), Henry Puhl
Executive Board
Dr. Richard Robinson Smith („Rob“ Smith)
born 1965 in Augsburg (Germany)
Nationality: German / US-American
Career
| Since 2022 | KION Group, Frankfurt am Main (Germany) |
| Since April 2022 | Interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO) & Labour Director of KION GROUP AG, Frankfurt am Main (Germany) |
| Since 2022 | Chief Executive Officer of KION GROUP AG, Frankfurt am Main (Germany) – appointed until December 31, 2024 |
| 2020 – 2021 | KONECRANES, Hyvinkää (Finland) |
| 2020 – 2021 | President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KONECRANES PLC, Helsinki (Finland) |
| 2013 – 2019 | AGCO Corporation, Duluth/Georgia (USA) |
| 2013 – 2019 | Senior Vice President & General Manager for Europe, Africa and Middle East of AGCO Corporation, Neuhausen am Rheinfall (Switzerland) |
| 2019 | Chairman of the Fendt Supervisory Board of AGCO GmbH, Marktoberdorf (Germany) |
| 2007 – 2013 | TRW Automotive, Livonia/Michigan (USA) |
| 2007 – 2013 | Vice President & General Manager in the Global Engine Components Division of TRW Automotive, Hannover (Germany) |
| 2009 – 2013 | Chairman of the Supervisory Board of TRW Automotive GmbH, Hannover (Germany) |
| 2005 – 2006 | Tyco Electronics, (now) Schaffhausen (Switzerland) |
| 2005 – 2006 | Vice President, Global Automotive Division of Tyco Electronics, Bensheim (Germany) |
| 2002 – 2005 | Bombardier Transportation, Berlin (Germany) |
| 2002 – 2005 | Vice President & General Manager, Services Material Solutions of Bombardier Transportation, Mannheim (Germany) |
| 2000 – 2001 | Dell Computer Corporation, Round Rock/Texas (USA) |
| 2000 – 2001 | Director Materials, Supply Chain Management of Dell Computer Corporation, Austin, Texas (USA) |
| 1994 – 2000 | Lucas Industries / LucasVarity / Delphi Automotive |
| 1996 – 2000 | Project Management Director of Delphi Diesel Systems Division / LucasVarity PLC, Paris (France) |
| 1994 – 1996 | New Product Introduction Manager of Lucas Braking Systems Division, Koblenz (Germany) |
| 1987 - 1991 | US Army Officer |
Education
| 2001 | Doctorate (Dr. rer. pol.) with dissertation in „International Operations Management“, WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management Koblenz (Germany) |
| 1994 | Diplom-Kaufmann Degree in Business Administration, specialization: ‚International Operations Management“, WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management Koblenz (Germany) |
| 1992 | Master of Business Administration, Finance, University of Texas at Austin Graduate School of Business, Austin/Texas (USA) |
| 1987 | Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Systems Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton/New Jersey (USA) |
Other substantial activities
| Since 2016 | Member of the Board of Directors of the listed FLSMIDTH & CO A/S in Copenhagen, Denmark (non-executive director) - Since 2016 Member of the Technology Committee (since 2017 Chairman) |
| Since 2003 | Member of the non-listed American Chamber of Commerce in Germany - Since 2010 Board Director |
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Hasan Dandashly
born 1960 in Beirut (Lebanon)
Nationality: Lebanese / US-American
Career
| Since 2018 | KION Group, Frankfurt am Main (Germany) |
| Since 2021 | Member of the Executive Board (President KION SCS) of KION GROUP AG (Germany) and President of the Operating Unit 'KION Supply Chain Solutions' (KION SCS) - appointed until December 31, 2024 |
| Since 2018 | President and Chief Executive Officer of Dematic Corp. (non-listed company), Atlanta/Georgia (USA) |
| 1998 - 2017 | General Electric, Boston/Massachusetts (USA) |
| 2017 | President & Chief Executive Officer Surface / Baker Hughes Integration at General Electric (GE Oil &Gas), Houston/Texas (USA) |
| 2014 - 2016 | President & Chief Executive Officer Downstream at General Electric (GE Oil & Gas), Houston/Texas (USA) |
| 2012 - 2013 | Vice President, Global Services at General Electric (GE Oil & Gas), Florence (Italy) |
| 2007 - 2012 | General Manager Power Generation Services at General Electric (GE Power), Dubai (UAE) |
| 2005 - 2006 | General Manager, Technology Development at General Electric (GE Global Research), Doha (Qatar) |
| 2000 - 2005 | General Manager, Train Management Systems at General Electric (GE Transportation), Melbourne/Florida (USA) |
| 1998 - 2000 | Software Engineering General Manager, Controls and HMI at General Electric (GE Intelligent Platforms), Charlottesville/Virginia (USA) |
| 1983 – 1998 | Honeywell International Inc., Morristown/New Jersey (USA) |
| 1993 - 1998 | Software Engineering Manager at Honeywell Industrial Automation, Phoenix/Arizona (USA) |
| 1989 - 1993 | Software Engineering Manager at Honeywell Avionics, Phoenix/Arizona (USA) |
| 1983 - 1989 | Research Engineer at Honeywell Corporate Research, Minneapolis/Minnesota (USA) |
Education
| 1981 – 1983 | Master Studies in Computer Science at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis/Minnesota (USA) Degree: Master of Science |
| 1978 – 1981 | Studies in Computer Science at the Lebanese American University in Beirut (Lebanon) Degree: Bachelor of Science |
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Andreas Krinninger
born 1967 in Bergisch Gladbach (Germany)
Nationality: Austrian
Career
| Since 2011 | KION Group, Frankfurt am Main (Germany) |
| Since 2021 | Member of the Executive Board (President KION ITS EMEA) of KION GROUP AG, Frankfurt am Main (Germany); – appointed until December 31, 2023 Chairman of the Management Board of STILL GmbH, Hamburg (Germany) and President of the Operating Unit 'KION Industrial Trucks & Services EMEA' (KION ITS EMEA) |
| since 2016 | Chairman of the Management Board of Linde Material Handling GmbH, Aschaffenburg (Germany) |
| 2016 – 2020 | Member of the Global Executive Committee of KION GROUP AG, Frankfurt am Main (Germany), and President of the Operating Unit 'Linde MH EMEA' |
| 2018 – 2019 | Managing Director Production (acting) of Linde Material Handling GmbH, Aschaffenburg (Germany) |
| 2014 – 2018 | Managing Director Finance of Linde Material Handling GmbH, Aschaffenburg (Germany) |
| 2011 – 2013 | Chief Restructuring Officer of KION Group GmbH, Wiesbaden (Germany) |
| 2007 – 2011 | Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. Inc. (KKR), New York (USA) |
| 2009 – 2011 | Director of KKR Capstone, London (United Kingdom) |
| 2007 – 2008 | Principal of KKR Capstone, London (United Kingdom) |
| 2005 – 2007 | Chief Supply Chain Officer & Member of the Executive Boards of GROHE AG, Düsseldorf (Germany) |
| 2001 – 2005 | LSG Sky Chefs, Neu-Isenburg (Germany) |
| 2004 – 2005 | Global Senior Vice President Product Engineering & Operational Excellence of LSG Sky Chefs, Irving/Dallas (USA) Member of the Global Executive Committee of LSG Sky Chefs, Neu-Isenburg (Germany) |
| 2003 – 2004 | Global Senior Vice President Operational Excellence of LSG Sky Chefs, Irving/Dallas (USA) |
| 1995 – 2001 | McKinsey & Company, Düsseldorf (Germany) |
| 1998 – 2001 | Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company, Cologne (Germany) |
| 1998 – 2001 | Senior Associate at McKinsey & Company, Cologne (Germany) |
| 1993 – 1995 | Research Assistant at the Lab for Manufacturing & Productivity of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge (USA) |
| 1991 – 1993 | Project Engineer at Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, Heidelberg (Germany) |
Education
| 1993 – 1995 | Studies of Strategic Management & Consulting at MIT Sloan School of Management in Cambridge (USA) Degree: Master of Science in Management |
| 1986 – 1991 | Studies of Mechanical Engineering at RWTH Aachen in Aachen (Germany) / MIT Lab for Manufacturing & Productivity, Cambridge (USA, 1991) Degree: Diploma in mechanical engineering |
Other substantial activities
| Since 2020 | Member of the Advisory Board of the non-listed ebm-papst Mulfingen GmbH & Co. KG in Mulfingen (Germany) |
| Since 2015 | Vice Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the non-listed Linde Hydraulics GmbH & Co. KG in Aschaffenburg (Germany) |
| Since 2015 | Member of the Supervisory Board of the non-listed Schöler Fördertechnik AG in Rheinfelden (Germany) |
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Dr. Henry Puhl
born 1970 in Goettingen (Germany)
Nationality: German
Career
| Since 2016 | KION Group, Frankfurt am Main (Germany) |
| Since 2021 | Member of the Executive Board (Chief Technology Officer) of KION GROUP AG, Frankfurt am Main (Germany) – appointed until June 30, 2024. |
| Since 2021 | Member of the Board of Directors of KION (Jinan) Forklift Co., Ltd., Jinan (People’s Republic of China) |
| Since 2021 | Member of the Board of Administration der Linde (China) Forklift Truck Corporation Ltd., Xiamen (People’s Republic of China) |
| Since 2021 | General Manager for Research & Development, Purchasing and Quality of FENWICK-LINDE OPERATIONS SAS, Cenon sur Viennes (France) |
| 2021 | Executive Vice President Operations KION ITS EMEA; Member of the Management Board of STILL GmbH, Hamburg (Germany) and of Linde Material Handling GmbH, Aschaffenburg (Germany) |
| 2016 – 2021 | President of the Operating Unit STILL EMEA; Chairman of the Management Board of STILL GmbH, Hamburg (Germany) |
| 2016 – 2020 | Member of the Global Executive Committee of KION GROUP AG, Frankfurt am Main (Germany) |
| 2009 – 2016 | CLAAS Gruppe (KGaA), Harsewinkel (Germany) |
| 2011 – 2016 | Member of the Group Executive Board and Managing Director of the Grain Harvest Business Area at CLAAS KGaA, Harsewinkel (Germany) |
| 2009 – 2011 | Spokesman of the Management Board at CLAAS Industrietechnik GmbH, Paderborn (Germany) |
| 2008 – 2009 | Schaeffler KG, Herzogenaurach (Germany) |
| 2008 –2009 | Management of the Ball Bearings Division at Schaeffler KG, Herzogenaurach (Germany) |
| 2002 – 2008 | Deere & Company, Moline (Illinois, USA) |
| 2006 – 2008 | Factory Manager at John Deere Works Bruchsal (Germany) |
| 2004 – 2006 | Managing Director at John Deere India Pune (India) |
| 2002 – 2004 | Manager Focus Factory Drive Train at John Deere Mannheim (Germany) |
| 1999 – 2002 | ThyssenKrupp Automotive AG, Bochum (Germany) |
| 1999 – 2002 | Project Manager in the field of engineering and investments at ThyssenKrupp Automotive AG, Bochum (Germany) |
| 1995 – 1999 | Technical University of Kaiserslautern (Germany), Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Production Systems |
| 1998 – 1999 | Senior engineer for the area of business organization / production systems |
| 1995 – 1998 | Research associate and project manager industrial projects |
Education
| 1999 | PhD program (Dr.-Ing.) at Technical University of Kaiserslautern (Germany) |
| 1990 – 1995 | Studies in mechanical engineering at the University of Hanover (Germany) Degree: Diplom-Ingenieur |
| 1989 – 1990 | Military service with the Maintenance / Training Company 6/1, Hanover (Germany) |
Other substantial activities
| Since 2021 | Member of the Advisory Board of KION Battery Systems GmbH, Karlstein (Germany) |
| Since 2021 | Member of the Advisory Board of the non-listed JULI Motorenwerk s.r.o. in Moravany (Czech Republic) |
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Ching Pong Quek
born in 1967 in Batu Pahat/Johor (Malaysia)
Nationality: Malaysian
Career
| Since 2006 | KION Group, Frankfurt am Main (Germany) |
| since 2021 | Member of the Executive Board of KION GROUP AG (President 'KION Industrial Trucks & Services Asia Pacific & Americas' (KION ITS Asia Pacific & Americas), Frankfurt am Main (Germany) – appointed until June 30, 2025 |
| since 2020 | Chairman of the Executive Board of KION (Jinan) Forklift Co., Ltd. (non-listed company), Jinan (People’s Republic of China) |
| 2019 – 2021 | Member of the Executive Board of KION GROUP AG (Chief Asia Pacific & Americas Officer), Frankfurt am Main (Germany) |
| since 2018 | Chairman of the Board of Directors of KION India Pvt Ltd. (non-listed company), Pune (India) |
| since 2017 | Director of the Board of Linde Material Handling Pty Ltd. (non-listed company), Sydney (Australia) |
| Since 2013 | Chairman of the board of Linde Material Handling (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (non-listed company), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) |
| 2013 – 2019 | Member of the Executive Board of KION GROUP AG (Chief Asia Pacific Officer), Frankfurt am Main (Germany) |
| 2013 – 2016 | Member of the Executive Board of KION Group GmbH, Wiesbaden (Germany) |
| Since 2012 | Chairman of the board of KION South Asia Pte Ltd. (non-listed company), Singapore (Singapore) |
| Since 2012 | Chairman of the board of Linde Material Handling (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (non-listed company), Bangkok (Thailand) |
| Since 2008 | Chairman of the board of KION ASIA HK Ltd. (non-listed company), Hongkong (People’s Republic of China) |
| Since 2008 | Chairman of the Board of KION Baoli (Jiangsu) Forklift Co., Ltd. (non-listed company), Jingjiang (People’s Republic of China) |
| Since 2006 | Chief Executive Officer at Linde (China) Forklift Truck Corp., Ltd. (non-listed company), Xiamen (People’s Republic of China) |
| Since 2006 | Chairman of the board of Linde Material Handling HK Ltd. (non-listed company), Hong Kong (People’s Republic of China) |
| Since 2006 | President at Linde Material Handling Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. (non-listed company), Singapore (Singapore) |
| 2003 - 2005 | Invensys Powerware (previously Eaton Power Quality), Singapore (Singapore) |
| 2003 - 2005 | President - Asia Pacific at Invensys Powerware, Singapore (Singapore) |
| 2004 - 2005 | Managing Director at Eaton Power Quality China, Shanghai (People’s Republic of China) |
| 1999 - 2003 | General Electric USA (Industrial Systems), Singapore (Singapore) |
| 1999 - 2003 | Managing Director – South East Asia at General Electric USA (Industrial Systems), Singapore (Singapore) |
| 1999 - 2003 | Executive Vice President at Fuji/GE Pte Ltd., Singapore (Singapore) |
| 1999 - 2002 | Executive Director at Seabanc GE Capital Sdn Bhd, Singapore (Singapore) |
| 1996 - 1999 | Country Manager – Malaysia, Thailand & Brunei at General Electric USA (Industrial Control Systems), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) |
| 1997 - 1999 | Product Leader – Asia at General Electric USA Continental Control (CCI), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) |
| 1994 - 1996 | Asia Area Manager – Pulp & Paper (USA/Singapore) at General Electric USA (Drive Systems Division), Salem (USA) |
| 1992 - 1994 | ABB Industrial & Building Systems, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) |
| 1993 - 1994 | Department Manager at ABB Industrial & Building Systems, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) |
| 1992 - 1993 | Sales Engineer / Product Specialist at ABB Industrial & Building Systems, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) |
Education
| 1997 – 2000 | Master Studies at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University in Melbourne (Australia) Degree: Master of Business Administration (International Management) |
| 1986 – 1992 | Studies of Mechanical/Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Technology in Johor Bahru (Malaysia) Degree: Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
Other substantial Activities
| Since 2020 | Member of the Board of Directors of Shanghai Quicktron Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (non-listed company), Shanghai (People’s Republic of China) (non-executive Director) |
| Since 2019 | Member of the Board of Directors of the non-listed company Zhejiang EP Equipment Co., Ltd., Hangzhou (People’s Republic of China) (non-executive Director) |
| Since 2018 | Chairman of the APAC Advisory Board of Euro Asia Consulting Co., Ltd. (non-listed company), Shanghai (People’s Republic of China) (non-executive Director) |
| Since 2017 | Member of the Board of Directors of Lansing Bagnall (Aust.) Pty. Ltd. (non-listed company), Huntingwood (Australia) (non-executive Director) |
| Since 2012 | Member of the Advisory Board of Fujian JULI Motor Co., Ltd. (non-listed company), Putian (People’s Republic of China) |
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Additional information
Additional Information in our Online Annual Report
Supervisory Board
Dr. Michael Macht
Chairman
Shareholder and Member of the Supervisory Board, Endurance Capital Aktiengesellschaft, Munich (Germany)
Özcan Pancarci *
Deputy chairman
Chairman of the works council of plants I & II of Linde Material Handling GmbH, Aschaffenburg (Germany)
Chairman of the group works council of KION Group
Birgit A. Behrendt
Former Member of the extended Board of Directors (Corporate Officer), Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan (USA)
Jan Bergemann *
Senior Director Order Processing at STILL Gesellschaft mbH in Hamburg, Germany
The resume will be brought online as soon as we have it.
Dr. Alexander Dibelius
Managing Partner of CVC Capital Partners (Deutschland) GmbH, Frankfurt (Germany)
Martin Fahrendorf *
Chairman of the works council of Dematic GmbH and Dematic Services GmbH, Heusenstamm (Germany)
Jiang, Kui
President of Shandong Heavy Industry Group, Ltd., Jinan (China)
Chairman of the Asia Pacific Committee at KION GROUP AG, Frankfurt am Main (Germany)
Dominique Lembke *
Head of the Collective Bargaining Department of IG Metall Bezirksleitung Küste in Hamburg, Germany
Thomas Mainka *
The resume will be brought online as soon as we have it.
Jörg Milla *
Chairman of the works council of STILL GmbH, Hamburg (Germany)
Dr. Christina Reuter
Head of Central Manufacturing Engineering & Operational Excellence at Space Equipment Operations bei der Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Taufkirchen (Germany)
Hans Peter Ring
Senior Advisor, Munich (Germany)
Alexandra Schädler *
Trade union secretary of the Managing Board of IG Metall, Frankfurt am Main (Germany)
Tan, Xuguang
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Shandong Heavy Industry Group Co. Ltd., Jinan (China), and of China National Heavy-Duty Truck Group Co., Ltd., Jinan (China)
Claudia Wenzel *
Full-time works council member, HQ and plant 2 at Linde Material Handling GmbH, Aschaffenburg (Germany)
Xu, Ping
Partner and member of the Management Committee of King & Wood Mallesons, Peking (China)
* = as representative of the employees
Status as of: 11 May 2022
Additional Information
Additional Information in our Online Annual Report
Organization
Group structure
The KION Group has three segments, representing our product categories and our internal services.
The first segment – Industrial Trucks & Services (ITS) – comprises the Operating Units KION ITS EMEA, KION ITS Asia Pacific, and KION ITS Americas. They are responsible for manufacturing, sales, and the service network for our brand companies Linde Material Handling, STILL, Baoli, Fenwick, and OM.
The second segment focuses on Supply Chain Solutions (SCS) from the KION SCS Operating Unit, which are also available to our customers through a global network. We are together with our Dematic brand also one of the world’s leading providers of warehouse automation (as measured by revenue in 2020).
The third segment is made up of our overarching Corporate Services. This is where we bring together our internal service units, from KION KION Group IT to KION Financial Services.
Key figures at the Online Annual Report
Corporate Governance
The Executive Board and Supervisory Board of KION GROUP AG are responsible for the company in accordance with the statutory provisions for stock corporations in Germany. This also includes the obligation to act within the principles of an exacting system of corporate governance that follows recognized standards. We believe these principles are essential to the Company’s long-term success. Compliance with them also increases the trust that our investors, employees, business partners, and the public have in the management and supervision of the Company. An extensive corporate governance report is an integral element of KION GROUP AG’s annual reports.
Declaration of Conformity (the comply-or-explain statement)
Every year, the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board of KION GROUP AG submit their declaration of conformity (comply-or-explain statement) relating to the recommendations of the German Corporate Governance Code government commission pursuant to section 161 of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG). It is available for download here.
Additional Information
Declarations of Conformity (Comply-or-explain statements)
Remuneration of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board
Remuneration system for Executive Board members
The remuneration of the Executive Board of KION GROUP AG is focused on the sustainable and long-term development of the Company.
The total remuneration of the Executive Board comprises a non-performance-related salary, non-performance-related non-cash benefits, pension entitlements, and performance-related (variable) remuneration. The system has specifically been designed so that both positive and negative business as well as the achievement of individual targets developments have a noticeable impact (Pay for Performance).
When determining the Executive Board remuneration, the Supervisory Board places particular emphasis on sustainability by taking social and ecological aspects into account as well as on the Company’s long-term growth and has accordingly highly weighted the variable remuneration components.
The current remuneration system for the members of the Executive Board has been in place since fiscal year 2021. A description of the remuneration system for Executive Board members and further information can be found here:
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The remuneration system for the members of the Executive Board was approved by the Annual General Meeting on May 11, 2021 with an approval rate of 69.10 percent of the votes cast.
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Remuneration system for members of the Supervisory Board
The remuneration of the Supervisory Board is set out in section 18 of the Articles of Association of KION GROUP AG. The remuneration of the Supervisory Board was last adjusted on June 1, 2017.
Both the structure and the amount of Supervisory Board remuneration take into account the requirements of the office of a member of the Supervisory Board of KION GROUP AG, in particular the time and responsibility involved.
The remuneration of the Supervisory Board is not performance-related. Supervisory Board members each receive fixed remuneration plus attendance fees and reimbursement of expenses.
A description of the remuneration system for members of the Supervisory Board can be found here:
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The existing remuneration system of the Supervisory Board was confirmed by the Annual General Meeting on May 11, 2021 with an approval rate of 99.60 percent of the votes cast.
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Remuneration report
The remuneration report for fiscal 2021 was approved by the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on May 11, 2022, with an approval rate of 66.23 percent of the votes cast.
