R. STAHL AG Announces Leadership Transition with Dr. Claus Bischoff as Deputy CEO

The Supervisory Board of R. STAHL AG has established a structured leadership transition plan that will see Dr. Claus Bischoff appointed as an additional member of the Executive Board and Deputy CEO effective October 1, 2025. This carefully orchestrated handover process ensures continuity in corporate strategy while introducing fresh leadership perspectives to the company's operations.

Dr. Mathias Hallmann will continue serving as CEO until the end of 2025, providing support during the transition period before stepping down from his position at his own request on December 31, 2025. The resolution was made in accordance with his longstanding service contract as Chairman of the Executive Board, which was originally scheduled to conclude on September 30, 2026. The Supervisory Board had proactively identified Dr. Bischoff as the successor through strategic succession planning initiatives.

Dr. Bischoff brings substantial management experience from international companies across multiple industrial sectors, including automotive, electronics, mechatronics, and automation technology. Holding a doctorate in engineering, he most recently served as CTO at automation specialist Lenze SE. His career began after studying mechatronics and automation at Robert Bosch GmbH, where he accumulated extensive professional expertise.

Additional career milestones include positions as Managing Director and CTO at mechatronics specialist Marquardt GmbH, where he oversaw development, sales, and business units. Dr. Bischoff has also held senior leadership roles at Continental AG and Magna International AG, providing him with diverse industry knowledge that will benefit his new position at R. STAHL AG.

Peter Leischner, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, emphasized that this leadership transition aligns with the consistent application of the corporate strategy adopted by the company. Under Dr. Hallmann's eight-year leadership, R. STAHL underwent significant repositioning, successfully navigating various crises while establishing foundations for profitable growth. The appointment of Dr. Bischoff ensures the company maintains an experienced successor who possesses strong leadership capabilities and deep expertise in technology, product development, and operational transformation.

This strategic leadership change maintains continuity in corporate direction while introducing new perspectives to technological development and global operations. Dr. Bischoff will work alongside Tobias Popp (CCO), the existing R. STAHL leadership team, and the entire workforce to advance the company's strategic initiatives forward. For HR vendors serving the industrial safety and automation sectors, this transition represents stability in leadership while potentially opening new opportunities for partnership and innovation as fresh expertise enters the executive team.