The Supervisory Board of Stabilus SE has resolved to propose Dr. Frank Heinricht for election to the Supervisory Board at the Annual General Meeting scheduled for February 4, 2026. This nomination represents a significant leadership transition, as current Chair Dr. Stephan Kessel will not seek re-election after completing three terms. For HR vendors and talent management professionals, this announcement underscores the critical importance of structured succession planning in corporate governance, particularly for global industrial players like Stabilus, a leading supplier of motion control solutions.
The succession followed a structured selection process conducted by the Remuneration and Nomination Committee, led by Dr. Ralf-Michael Fuchs. The committee evaluated multiple candidates before recommending Dr. Heinricht, considering the board's composition objectives, overall competence profile, and diversity concept. If elected by shareholders, Dr. Heinricht is expected to succeed Dr. Kessel and be elected as the new Chair, subject to board resolution. This meticulous process highlights a best practice in board-level talent management, demonstrating how rigorous candidate evaluation aligns with long-term strategic needs.
Dr. Frank Heinricht brings over three decades of executive experience across technology sectors including metals, specialty glass, and electrical industries. His most recent role was as Chair of the Board of Management at Schott AG from 2013 to 2024, where he oversaw the successful initial public offering of Schott Pharma AG in 2023. Prior to this, he served on the Management Board of Heraeus Holding GmbH from 2003 to 2013, including six years as Chair. His earlier career included serving as sole Managing Director of ATMEL Germany GmbH. This extensive C-suite background provides Stabilus with leadership continuity and deep industrial expertise, factors that HR vendors should note as increasingly valuable in board recruitment for technology-driven manufacturing firms.
The incoming candidate also possesses substantial governance experience through service on multiple advisory and supervisory boards. He has held the position of Deputy Chair of the Advisory Board of the Wurth Group for approximately 15 years and currently serves on the advisory board of Schwarz Unternehmenstreuhand KG and the supervisory board of B. Braun SE. Dr. Heinricht's educational background includes a degree and doctorate in physics from the Technical University of Berlin. This blend of technical education and broad board service illustrates the evolving profile sought for board chairs in industrial companies, combining sector-specific knowledge with diversified governance perspectives.
Dr. Stephan Kessel, the outgoing Chair, reflected on his tenure with satisfaction, noting Stabilus's significant growth through organic expansion and strategic acquisitions, including the recent purchase of Destaco. These developments have positioned the company as a leading industrial supplier of motion control solutions and created a foundation for future growth. Dr. Kessel expressed confidence in his proposed successor, highlighting Dr. Heinricht's extensive expertise and leadership capabilities. For the HR industry, this smooth transition model—where outgoing leadership endorses a successor with complementary skills—can serve as a case study in effective executive succession management.
Dr. Ralf-Michael Fuchs emphasized the careful consideration given to the succession planning process, expressing confidence that Dr. Heinricht's extensive management experience and broad market knowledge would provide valuable impetus for Stabilus's continued development. The company, which generated revenues of EUR 1.3 billion in the 2024 fiscal year and employs eight thousand people worldwide, maintains its headquarters in Koblenz, Germany. Additional information about the company is available at https://group.stabilus.com and https://ir.stabilus.com. The formal invitation to the Annual General Meeting will be published in mid-December 2025.
For HR vendors, this news matters as it reflects broader trends in board composition, succession planning rigor, and the strategic value of cross-sector executive experience. Stabilus's approach—combining internal committee diligence with an external candidate possessing proven leadership in adjacent industrial technologies—may influence how other global firms approach top-level transitions. The nomination also signals potential continuity in Stabilus's acquisition-driven growth strategy, given Dr. Heinricht's experience with Schott's IPO and his background in scaled industrial operations. As vendors serving the HR function monitor governance trends, this planned succession at a EUR 1.3 billion revenue company offers insights into the competencies and processes valued at the highest levels of industrial organizations.
