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Trumpf promotes Berthold Schmidt to CTO

22 Mar 2023

Management reshuffle sees Peter Leibinger become chairman of the industrial laser giant’s supervisory board.

Trumpf has announced a significant reshuffle of its senior management team, with Berthold Schmidt set to take over from Peter Leibinger as the industrial laser firm’s CTO.

Coinciding with the Ditzingen, Germany, company’s 100-year anniversary, the reorganization will come into effect at the start of its new fiscal year, which begins in July.

It sees Jürgen Hambrecht retiring from his role as the chairman of the supervisory board after ten years in the post, to be succeeded by current CTO Peter Leibinger - the brother of long-time CEO Nicola Leibinger-Kammüller.

Physicist promotions
Physicist Berthold Schmidt - currently managing director of the VCSEL-producing Trumpf Photonic Components division in Ulm - will step up to replace Leibinger in the CTO role. Schmidt has been with Trumpf for ten years, including stints as CTO for research and development in the Laser Technology division, and as head of corporate research.

Trumpf did not immediately announce a replacement for Schmidt at the Photonic Components division, but said that it would reveal the successor in time for the July switch.

Also retiring is Christian Schmitz, who is currently responsible for Trumpf’s Laser Technology business division. Replacing Schmitz will be Hagen Zimer, another physicist who has been in charge of Trumpf Laser in Schramberg since 2020, and previously headed up Trumpf’s laser diode facility in the US.

Taking Zimer’s place in Schramberg will be Björn Dymke, who is currently head of finance at Trumpf’s Ditzingen headquarters.

Other changes include the appointment of Elke Reichart from the German travel giant TUI, who is set to succeed Claudia Eckert as a member of Trumpf’s supervisory board. One final change will see Peter Bokelmann retire from the position of general counsel.

Setting a course
In a company statement Leibinger-Kammüller, who remains in post as both CEO and chairwoman of the managing board at the family-owned business, paid tribute to the retiring Hambrecht, saying:

“As chairman of the supervisory board of Trumpf, Dr. Hambrecht has been of tremendous service to our company. Thanks to his prudence and expertise, we as the managing board were able to make important decisions even in difficult times.

“I thank him and the other three colleagues who are also leaving for their dedication and loyalty. They greatly contributed to the success of the company in recent years.

“With the current changes in the managing board and my brother’s chairmanship of the supervisory board, we are setting the course for the future of Trumpf in the company's 100th anniversary year.

"As of July 1, we will grow more than ever - with the ambition to bring excellent products to market in a changing world.”

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