The long-serving global head of corporate communications at KION GROUP AG, Michael Hauger (53), will be leaving the intralogistics solutions provider on March 31, 2022. He joined what is now the MDAX-listed group in 2007, shortly after the KION Group was spun off from Linde AG and sold to private equity, and built up the communications function. Over the past 15 years, during which he worked closely with outgoing CEO Gordon Riske, he has led the multi-brand group’s internal, external, and digital communications, public affairs, and brand management, and has established integrated communications across the Group. Until the end of March, Hauger will provide communications support to the new CEO Rob Smith in his initial phase.
“On behalf of the entire company, I would like to sincerely thank Michael Hauger for his exceptionally strong and loyal commitment to the KION Group. He has played a major role in shaping the Group’s excellent global reputation among its stakeholders, the perception of its brands, and our corporate culture worldwide,” said Gordon Riske, Chief Executive Officer of KION GROUP AG. “With his broad, international communications experience, his deep understanding of the business, and his analytical, calm manner, he has been an important advisor to me personally, to the entire Executive Board, and to many executives worldwide at all stages of the development of our Group.”
During his time with the company, Hauger managed the communication of the group during the challenging global financial crisis of 2008/09 as well as the communication of the partnership with the Chinese anchor investor Weichai Power, the successful IPO in 2013, and numerous global acquisitions. He accompanied the transformation from a European forklift manufacturer to a global provider of automated supply chain solutions and was the driver of internal change communications and of the development of shared KION values as the basis of a worldwide corporate culture.
“After three decades in corporate communications and more recently 15 extraordinarily exciting, intensive, and fulfilling years at the helm of KION’s communications function, the CEO change is the right time for me to reorientate in my professional career,” said Michael Hauger.
The KION Group will inform about a successor later.
