The Zschimmer & Schwarz Group, a global supplier of chemical auxiliaries and specialities headquartered in Lahnstein, Germany, announces that the previous Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Dietmar Clausen has resigned from the Management Board at his own request as of 30 June 2023. Dietmar Clausen will take over the management and shares of a company which is owned by his family.

"I would like to thank all employees, my colleagues, the Advisory Board and the shareholder families for the excellent cooperation over the past 16 years," says Dietmar Clausen. "Precisely because Zschimmer & Schwarz is a family business, the Advisory Board and the shareholder families were very understanding of my wish to continue my brother's business. The company is active in the field of regenerative energies – an area that is very close to my heart and in which I would like to get more involved. Because I still feel connected to Zschimmer & Schwarz, I will continue to support the company in an advisory capacity. I wish the new CFO every success and all the best in his new role.”

Frank Richter has taken over the position as CFO on 1 July 2023. He joined Zschimmer & Schwarz in 2020 as Director of Global Group Controlling, Risk Management and Treasury and has been a member of the management of the operating company Zschimmer & Schwarz GmbH & Co KG Chemische Fabriken in Lahnstein since 2021. Frank Richter is looking forward to his new role as CFO: "Zschimmer & Schwarz has been standing for innovation and customer proximity for almost 130 years. It is both an honour and an obligation for me to help shape the strategy and operations of a family-owned company with such a long tradition. I look forward to contributing to the positive development of the Zschimmer & Schwarz Group with my experience and know-how."

As of 1 July 2023, the Management Board of the Zschimmer & Schwarz Group is composed of Dr Christoph Riemer as Chief Executive Officer, Dr Felix Grimm as Chief Operating Officer and Frank Richter as Chief Financial Officer. 

Dr Christoph Riemer, CEO of Zschimmer & Schwarz, thanks Dietmar Clausen and looks forward to working with Frank Richter: "Since I took over my position as CEO in January, Dietmar Clausen has supported me greatly with his experience and knowledge of the company. On behalf of Zschimmer & Schwarz, I would like to thank him for the excellent cooperation and his commitment to the company. From the founding duo of 1894 – through constant internationalisation and transformation – a globally active group of companies with over 1,500 employees has developed that is still characterised by team play and entrepreneurial enthusiasm to this day. This is our formula for success, and we continue to implement it consistently. With Frank Richter, we have a proven financial expert from our own ranks on board who, thanks to his expertise, optimally complements our management team."

Christian Schwarz, shareholder and member of the Advisory Board, agrees: "The team concept has proven itself again, especially in the smooth course of our leadership change, which we ushered in about a year ago. Thanks to the excellent cooperation between the Advisory Board, the shareholders, the previous and the new management, the baton was passed successfully because everyone worked hand in hand – a culture that Dietmar Clausen also actively promoted during his time with us. We thank him for his contribution to the development of the Zschimmer & Schwarz Group and now wish him every success in his own family business. We will continue the tradition of close cooperation with Frank Richter in order to successfully shape the future of our company and further pursue our growth course."