Henkel has announced that its current CEO, Hans Van Bylen, for personal reasons, will not be available for a further term after about 35 years with the company, including about 15 years on the management board and four years as its CEO. He will therefore hand over the position as CEO to his successor, Carsten Knobel, effective January 1, 2020. 
 
Knobel joined Henkel in 1995 and has been on the management board since 2012, responsible for finance, purchasing and integrated business solutions. His succession as CFO is still to be decided, according to the company, which made the announcement today.

“After about 35 years with Henkel, I have decided that with the expiration of my contract next year it is now the right time to make an orderly change at the top of the company. For personal reasons, I will not seek a further term as chairman of the management board. I would like to thank all employees and my colleagues in the management board for their dedication and commitment over the past years, as well as all members of our supervisory committees for their support and advice,” said Van Bylen. “I am also glad that we were able to appoint Carsten Knobel from within our management board as successor and CEO. I am convinced that Henkel will continue to develop successfully under his leadership”. 

“Under the leadership of Hans Van Bylen, all business units were further strengthened through acquisitions and partnerships. The acquisition of Sun Products significantly expanded the market position of our Laundry & Home Care business in the USA, our largest market worldwide. Acquisitions were also made in Adhesive Technologies and Beauty Care. He put particular emphasis on the digitalization of the company in all areas, which he drove forward with great determination. We would like to sincerely thank him for the important course settings during his time as CEO and for his commitment to our company for more than 35 years,” said Dr. Simone Bagel-Trah, chairwoman of the supervisory board and shareholders’ committee.

Van Bylen, who is 58, started his professional career at Henkel in 1984. As a member of the management board of Henkel since 2005, he was initially responsible for the beauty care business unit before being appointed chairman of the management board at the beginning of 2016. Since September 2018, Hans Van Bylen has also been president of the German Chemical Industry Association and vice president of the Federation of German Industries. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Consumer Goods Forum.