wienerberger, a leading international provider of building envelope and infrastructure solutions, announced today that Heimo Scheuch is stepping down as CEO with immediate effect for personal health reasons. After more than 17 years at the helm, Scheuch requested the Supervisory Board to accept the early termination of his mandate. The board has appointed Gerhard Hanke, currently Chief Operating Officer Central & East and Deputy Chairman of the Managing Board, as Interim CEO while a structured search for a permanent successor is conducted.
The leadership change comes as wienerberger prepares to release its second quarter and first half 2026 results on 12 August 2026. The company, which employs more than 20,000 people across over 200 production sites, generated revenues of EUR 4.6 billion and an operating EBITDA of approximately EUR 754 million in 2025. This transition occurs at a critical time as the company continues to execute its strategic goals.
Gerhard Hanke brings over 25 years of experience at wienerberger to his new role. He previously served as Chief Financial Officer from 2021 to 2025, became COO Central & East in March 2025, and was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Managing Board in June 2026. The responsibilities of Dagmar Steinert (CFO) and Harald Schwarzmayr (COO West) remain unchanged, ensuring stability during the transition.
Heimo Scheuch has led wienerberger since 2009, overseeing a fundamental transformation from a traditional brick manufacturer into a diversified international group with a strong focus on ecological solutions and infrastructure. Under his leadership, the company expanded its geographic footprint and built a robust position in water and energy management alongside its core building envelope business. His tenure saw wienerberger become the world's largest producer of bricks and a market leader in clay roof tiles in Europe, concrete pavers in Eastern Europe, and a leading supplier of pipe systems and facade products.
Peter Steiner, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, expressed profound gratitude for Scheuch's contributions: "When he took the helm in 2009, wienerberger was a brick manufacturer. Today, it is a leading international group with more than 20,000 employees, a resilient business model spanning the entire building envelope and infrastructure, and a clear sustainability agenda. This successful transformation is his achievement." Steiner also extended best wishes for Scheuch's health and confidence in Hanke's leadership.
Scheuch reflected on his tenure, stating, "wienerberger has been my home for thirty years – from my first days as an assistant to leading this group as CEO. I would like to thank our customers, business partners and shareholders as well as the Supervisory Board, my fellow Managing Board members, and the global wienerberger team for their trust and commitment over the past years. We have achieved a great deal together, and I am proud of every step." He added that while he had looked forward to continuing as planned, focusing on his health has become necessary.
The announcement underscores the importance of leadership continuity in a company of wienerberger's scale. With Hanke's deep institutional knowledge and the unchanged roles of other board members, the company aims to maintain momentum. The search for a permanent CEO will be conducted thoroughly, with the board emphasizing the need for a successor who can build on Scheuch's legacy of innovation and sustainability.
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