Stefan Brandl, 52, Chief Executive Officer of the ebm-papst Group, has decided to leave the company as of 30 June 2021 to accept a new professional challenge as Vice Chairman of the Dräxlmaier Group.

Thomas Wagner, Managing Director Production and Deputy CEO of the ebm-papst Group since 2002, will succeed as CEO from 1 July 2021. Thomas Nürnberger, CEO of ebm-papst China since 2016, will assume full responsibility for Sales and Marketing of the Group as of 1 April 2021.

Having held various positions of responsibility throughout his more than 30 years with ebm-papst – most recently as CEO – Stefan Brandl has played a decisive role in the  positive development of the company and strategically positioned the Group to ensure its successful and sustainable future. Under his direction, the “one ebm-papst” strategy transformed three separately managed units into a strong corporate group with a clear focus on growth and the Chinese and North American markets. At the same time, he broke new ground by launching ebm-papst neo as think tank and innovation hub for developing new digital business models for the entire ebm-papst Group.

Gerhard Sturm, founder of ebm-papst and Honorary Chairman of the Advisory Board: “On behalf of the shareholders/partners, I wish to thank Stefan Brandl with all my heart for everything he has achieved for our company over the past thirty years. All of us are truly and exceedingly sorry to see him go.  The only small consolation is that he is remaining loyal to family businesses, as they are at the heart of the German Mittelstand. We do wish him all the very best for his professional and personal future.”

Dr. Ludger Laufenberg, Chairman of the ebm-papst Group Advisory Board:
“I would like to thank Mr. Brandl on behalf of the Advisory Board for shaping the Group’s positive development and strategic direction as well as for his successful management during the current Corona crisis. We congratulate him on his new position. And we wish to thank our longstanding Managing Director, Thomas Wagner, for stepping in as CEO and thereby ensuring continuity in the management of the company. Thomas Nürnberger will be taking over full responsibility for Sales and Marketing throughout the Group. We wish him, too, every success. The management team is an experienced, well-coordinated team firmly committed to consistently advancing the company’s growth trajectory in close cooperation with our staff. ebm-papst is excellently positioned for the future.”

CEO Stefan Brandl: “My entire professional life and career has been with ebm-papst. Leaving the company now is not easy for me, to say the least. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the shareholders/partners, the Advisory Board, my colleagues on the Management Board and simply all our staff for what has always been true teamwork based on mutual trust. The company is exceedingly well positioned strategically, and I shall give it my full passion, dedication and commitment up until my very last working day with ebm-papst.”