Personnel
Rob Smith succeeds Gordon Riske as Chief Executive Officer of the KION Group
Rob Smith is to become the new Chief Executive Officer of KION Group AG. The Supervisory Board of the intralogistics group has appointed the 56-year-old as successor to long-serving CEO Gordon Riske with effect from January 1, 2022, with the usual contract term of three years for initial appointments.
Riske will leave the Executive Board on December 31, 2021 - six months before the end of his contract upon reaching the regular age limit of 65. He will be available to advise his successor and the company until the end of his original contract.
"We are very pleased to have gained one of the most distinguished global top managers in the capital goods industry with proven capital markets, M&A and digitalization experience for the KION Group. Rob Smith brings all the experience and leadership personality to seamlessly continue the KION Group's growth trajectory," said Michael Macht, Chairman of the Supervisory Board. "I am grateful to Gordon Riske for actively contributing to a smooth, long-term succession after 14 very successful years at the helm of the Group."
Rob Smith is currently President & CEO of the publicly listed Finnish group Konecranes, a leading international manufacturer of industrial cranes and container port automation. From 2013 to 2019, he was Senior Vice President & General Manager Europe, Africa and Middle East of the global agricultural machinery group AGCO Corporation.
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