CFO Ulrich-Nicolaus Kranz to step down after twelve years on Kiekert board

The supervisory board of the Kiekert AG, the technology leader in automotive locking systems, announces that Ulrich-Nicolaus Kranz (49) is stepping down from his position as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at the end of 2018 and leaving the company at his own request.

Kranz is responsible for the company’s Controlling, Finance, Human Resources, IT, Joint Ventures, Legal, Compliance, Internal Audit and Strategy functions. The company will announce his successor within the next few weeks, who has already been contracted.

The graduate of law and business studies joined Kiekert in 2007 as Chief Restructuring Officer (CRO). Within a broader restructuring process, Kranz secured the company’s stability of its cost structures under the challenging circumstances prevailing at the time, and managed numerous globalization initiatives.

Ulrich-Nicolaus Kranz played a key role in the sale of Kiekert to Chinese parent company North Lingyun Industrial Group Co., Ltd., which was steered by Kranz through all stages of the process. In his new position as Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), which he took over in 2013, Kranz established a strategy department and went on to drive the associated product diversification and competence development in electronics.

On his later appointment as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Kranz took on further responsibilities, adding the Controlling, Finance and IT functions. The supervisory board expressed its recognition of the successes achieved by Ulrich-Nicolaus Kranz and thanked him for his long service of successful leadership within his roles.

Kiekert AG, founded in 1857, is the technology leader for automotive locking systems. Kiekert employs 6,500 people in eleven countries at eight production plants, seven development centers and three sales units, developing, producing and selling tailormade customer solutions 24/7. Sales revenues in 2017 totaled 830 million euros.

Note to Editors: Images available for download: https://www.kiekert.com/en/press/press-releases.

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