The Austrian fiber producer Lenzing AG can only rely on Robert van de Kerkhof until the end of the year. The Chief Commercial Officer Fiber, who has been a member of the group’s board of directors since 2014, informed the supervisory board that he would not be renewing his contract, which runs until December 31, the company announced on Thursday.
After van de Kerkhof’s departure, the group’s board of directors will be reduced from four to three members, Lenzing explained. In the future, CEO Stephan Sielaff will “essentially take over the sales agenda in the fiber area”. Van de Kerkhof will continue to drive the area of sustainability, including the CO2 roadmap, until the end of his current term of office as Chief Sustainability Officer.
“After nine years, I have decided with a heavy heart to leave the Lenzing Group as a member of the Management Board at the end of the year,” said van de Kerkhof in a statement. “I would like to thank my colleagues on the Management Board and all employees. It has been an amazing journey with outstanding achievements, including the successful execution of our new plants and brand strategy, pioneering product innovations and becoming a sustainability champion.”
Chairman of the Supervisory Board Cord Prinzhorn paid tribute to the outgoing manager: “Robert van de Kerkhof has fulfilled his role as Marketing and Sales Director since 2014 and has made a significant contribution to the successful development of the Lenzing Group,” he emphasized in a statement. “We would like to thank him for the dedicated and trusting cooperation and wish him all the best for the future.”