The Swiss clothing group Calida Holding AG will have to do without its previous CEO Timo Schmidt-Eisenhart in the future. The manager, who has headed the group of companies since spring 2021, has informed the board of directors that he is “resigning from his position for personal reasons,” the Calida Group announced in an ad hoc announcement on Monday.
Until a successor is appointed, Schmidt-Eisenhart “will continue to perform his duties as CEO and ensure an orderly handover,” explained the parent company of the brands Calida, Aubade, Cosabella, Erlich Textil and Lafuma Mobilier.
Stefan Portmann, Vice President of the Board of Directors, paid tribute to the outgoing CEO: “The Board of Directors very much regrets the resignation of Timo Schmidt-Eisenhart and thanks him for his great commitment, the successful launch of the current strategy and the recent record results,” he said in a statement .
Former CEO Felix Sulzberger will be the new President of the Board of Directors
At the same time, the Calida Group announced personnel changes on the Board of Directors, which are to be implemented at the upcoming General Assembly on April 19. Accordingly, Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard will resign as President of the Board.
“After 9 years on the Board of Directors and the last 3 years as President of Calida Group, the time has come for me to pass the baton,” Hoejsgaard said in a statement. “It has been a pleasure working with my board colleagues, as well as CEO Timo Schmidt-Eisenhart and CFO Sacha Gerber. I am particularly pleased that we have been able to achieve the best results in the history of the Calida Group together over the past 2 years.”
His successor at the head of the board of directors is Felix Sulzberger, who headed the group from 2001 to 2016 as CEO. With Thomas Stöcklin, who was Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Calida Group until 2018, another former top manager of the group will join the board. He will be “proposed as an independent member of the Board of Directors,” the company said.
The founding family Kellenberger remains anchor shareholder
In addition, two of the group’s major shareholders will appoint new representatives to the Board of Directors. Eric Sibbern, senior partner and member of the management of the investment company Veraison Capital AG, will therefore represent the interests of Veraison SICAV on the board in the future.
As a representative of the founding family Kellenberger, Allan Kellenberger takes over the seat from Erich Kellenberger on the board of directors. The family, which had meanwhile considered selling their shares, has now decided “to continue to assume their responsibility as an anchor shareholder” and intends “to remain involved in the Calida Group in the medium term,” emphasized the group.
Erich Kellenberger explained the step: “After a thorough examination of all options, our family decided that continuing our commitment in the medium term is the most viable solution for the company. My son Allan will represent the family as a responsible shareholder,” he said in a statement.
In addition to Erich Kellenberger and Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, Lukas Morscher will also be leaving the Board of Directors at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. The previous independent members Laurence Bourdon-Tracol, Patricia Gandji, Gregor Greber and Stefan Portmann are standing for re-election.