CEO – Change at SCHOTT AG in 2025
October 8, 2024, Mainz, Germany
In June 2023, Dr. Frank Heinricht, Chairman of the Management Board of SCHOTT AG, informed the Supervisory Board that he would not be renewing his employment contract after 11 years as CEO and plans to retire on December 31, 2024. The Supervisory Board has taken note of his decision with great regret.
Heinricht has been heading the company since 2013. During this time, sales rose from EUR 1.9 billion to around EUR 2.9 billion, and the equity ratio increased from 19% to over 63%. The basis for this success was strengthening SCHOTT AG’s innovative capabilities combined with a growth strategy.
Frank Heinricht contributed significantly to developing a transparent, growth-oriented company culture, which is also reflected in various external and internal employee satisfaction surveys.
“I have taken this decision entirely due to personal reasons. I look back at a wonderful time at SCHOTT and am very grateful to have been able to accompany the company on its growth path over the past 11 years,” says Frank Heinricht.
The Chairman of the Supervisory Board of SCHOTT AG, Dr. Michael Bolle, said: “SCHOTT owes an extraordinary amount of gratitude to Dr. Frank Heinricht. With his innovative, team-oriented, and strategic skills, he has shaped the company into a very successful group. We deeply regret his decision and thank him for his outstanding achievements. We wish Dr. Heinricht all the best for the future.”
Dr. Heinricht’s successor will be Dr. Torsten Derr, who is currently the Chief Executive Officer of SGL Carbon SE. “As a recognized and successful CEO, Dr. Derr will succeed Dr. Heinricht in leading SCHOTT AG on its path of continuous innovation and growth,” added Dr. Michael Bolle. “We wish him a great start and much success in managing the company.”
About SCHOTT
International technology group SCHOTT produces high-quality components and advanced materials, including specialty glass, glass-ceramics, and polymers. Many SCHOTT products have high-tech applications that push technological boundaries, such as flexible glass in foldable smartphones, glass-ceramic mirror substrates in the world's largest telescopes, and laser glass in nuclear fusion. With their pioneering spirit, SCHOTT’s 17,050 employees in over 30 countries work as partners to industries such as healthcare, home appliances, consumer electronics, semiconductors, optics, astronomy, energy, and aerospace. In fiscal year 2023, SCHOTT generated 2.9 billion euros (3.0 billion USD) in sales. In addition to innovation, one of its important corporate goals is sustainability, where it is pursuing climate neutral production by 2030. SCHOTT was founded in 1884 and is headquartered in Mainz, Germany. The company belongs to the Carl Zeiss Foundation, which uses its dividends to promote science. Further information at SCHOTT.com
Rina Della Vecchia
Senior Marketing Communication Manager