Thyssenkrupp: resignation of the chairman of the supervisory board, Ulrich Lehner

Booth: 20:55 | Duration: 3 minutes

D The leadership chaos at ThyssenKrupp reaches the next summit. After the surprising resignation of CEO Heinrich Hiesinger at the beginning of the month, the chairman of the supervisory board, Ulrich Lehner, resigns. The 72-year-old man resigned from his seat on July 31 and resigned from the board of directors at the same time.

"The trust of the major shareholders and a common understanding of the supervisory board regarding the strategic direction of ThyssenKrupp have been the basis of my work Berthold Beitz, to successfully develop the company in the world. interest of shareholders, employees and customers.Lehner explains his withdrawal – and chooses almost identical words as previously Hiesinger.

In his farewell statement, the director speaks of a deliberate move to allow A fundamental discussion on the future of ThyssenKrupp Lehner remains on this issue for the preservation of the Dax Group as an industrial conglomerate with different business sectors such as elevators, large factories, shipyards and shipyards. auto parts.

Financial investors, especially the majority shareholder Cevian Capital and the US Hegdefonds Elliott, are pushing for the dissolution of ThyssenKrupp. "My decision can help raise the awareness of those involved with the idea that a break in the business and the loss of many jobs are not an option – neither in the interest of the founder nor the in the interest of our country, "says Lehner.

Gather had been silent for months

The experienced manager, who had been Henkel's managing director for many years, criticized Alfried Krupp von Bohlen and Halbach Foundation, ThyssenKrupp's largest shareholder. Although their goal is to keep the traditional group of the Ruhr together as a business.

In recent months, however, many doubts have been raised about the fact that the board of directors Ursula Gather wishes to accomplish this task. After a special session, the foundation publicly announced its commitment to the company and its employees last Friday, after being silent for months in a raging political conflict.

Lehner but these words n & Have apparently not been enough, just right after other discussions in the background, as he says of the environment: "He sees in the Foundation currently no support." For those responsible for the hill of the villa that is a low blow, say the experts. Until now, the foundation does not want to comment on this or resign from Lehner.

The board of directors of Hiesinger's successor, Guido Kerkhoff, expressed regret over the withdrawal of Lehner. "With his calm and reliable leadership of the Supervisory Board, he has always found a balance between shareholder and employee interests."

Lehner has been a member of the Supervisory Board of ThyssenKrupp for ten years, since 2013, the Rhinelander at its head. It was actually commissioned until 2020, just like Hiesinger, who was supported by him.

The successor to the chairmanship of the Supervisory Board is determined by the control remaining in the short term. Then a new member of the Supervisory Board must be found, more precisely, even two. Even former Telekom CEO, René Obermann, is expected to leave the board of directors.

He recently voted against management at the decisive meeting on the merger of ThyssenKrupp's Steel division with the European company of the Indian competitor Tata Steel Europe, which has since been decided. Unlike Lehner, however, there is still no date for the departure of Obermann, say insiders.