R. STAHL preparing gradual leadership transition

• Dr. Claus Bischoff appointed as additional Executive Board member and Deputy CEO effective 1 October 2025
• CEO Dr. Mathias Hallmann to step down from the Executive Board and leave the company at the end of the year at his own request
• Dr. Claus Bischoff to assume CEO role effective 1 January 2026
• Transition aligns with the consistent application of the adopted corporate strategy

Waldenburg, 16.09.2025 – At its meeting today, the Supervisory Board of R. STAHL AG laid the groundwork for a gradual, structured handover of company management. Effective 1 October 2025, the Supervisory Board will appoint Dr. Claus Bischoff (52) as an additional member of the Executive Board and Deputy CEO. Dr. Mathias Hallmann retains his duties as CEO of the R. STAHL Group until the end of the year and will provide Dr. Bischoff with any support he may need during the transition process.

In accordance with the contractual agreements reached with the Supervisory Board, Dr. Mathias Hallmann will step down from his position as CEO and leave the company at his own request as of 31 December 2025. The resolution was passed in the course of Dr. Hallmann’s longstanding service contract as Chairman of the Executive Board, which is scheduled to end on 30 September 2026.

In the course of its strategic succession planning, the Supervisory Board had already identified Dr. Bischoff as a successor at the beginning of next year. The future member of the Executive Board has many years of management experience with international companies in the automotive, electronics, mechatronics and automation technology sectors as well as in the development of global structures and digital business models. He holds a doctorate in engineering and was most recently CTO at automation specialist Lenze SE. He began his career after studying mechatronics and automation at Robert Bosch GmbH, where he gained extensive professional experience. Further career milestones included positions as Managing Director and CTO at mechatronics specialist Marquardt GmbH, where he was responsible for development, sales and business units. Dr. Bischoff has also held senior positions at Continental AG and Magna International AG.

“The transition is in line with the consistent application of the corporate strategy we have adopted. Dr. Hallmann has worked to reposition R. STAHL in the past eight years. He has successfully guided the Group through a number of different crises and laid the foundation for profitable growth at the company. With Dr. Bischoff, we have found an experienced successor who, as a strong leader with deep expertise in technology, product development and operational transformation, will continue to drive our strategic process forward together with Tobias Popp (CCO), the R. STAHL leadership team, and the entire workforce”, says Peter Leischner, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, on the upcoming change in management at the Group.
 

A picture of Dr. Claus Bischoff, designated CEO of R. STAHL AG, is available for download at: Press-Material | News | Corporate | R. STAHL)

 

About R. STAHL – www.r-stahl.com
R. STAHL is one of the world's leading suppliers of electrical and electronic products and systems for explosion protection. These products and systems prevent explosions in hazardous areas and contribute to the safety of people, machines and the environment. The portfolio covers the portfolio segments Electrical, Automation as well as Lighting and is completed by the cross-divisional function Customer Solutions. Typical customers are the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, the oil & gas industry – including LNG applications – as well as the food and beverage industry. Most of the R. STAHL products are also approved for use with hydrogen. In 2024, global sales amounting to around € 344 million were generated by 1,743 employees. The shares of R. STAHL AG are traded on the Regulated Market/Prime Standard of Deutsche Boerse (ISIN DE000A1PHBB5).

Forward-looking statements
This release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions and estimates of R. STAHL’s management. Although we assume that the expectations of these forward-looking statements are realistic, we cannot guarantee that these expectations will prove to be correct. The assumptions may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such discrepancies include: changes in the macroeconomic and business environment, exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations, the roll-out of competing products, a lack of acceptance of new products or services, and changes in business strategy. R. STAHL does not plan to update these forward-looking statements nor does it accept any obligation to do so.

Contact:
R. STAHL AG
Judith Schäuble
Director Corporate Communications & Investor Relations
Am Bahnhof 30
74638 Waldenburg (Württ.)
Germany

Tel. +49 7942 943-1396
investornews@r-stahl.com