(L-R) Frank Wagener, Managing Director at Paul Wurth SA & Chief Financial Officer Region Europe SMS group; Paul Tockert, Technical Director at Paul Wurth SA & Executive Vice President Metallurgy SMS group; Credit: SMS group

On Monday 3 June 2024, SMS group announced the appointment of Frank Wagener as the new Managing Director and Paul Tockert as Technical Director of Paul Wurth SA, effective immediately.

They will be succeeding André Schneider, who expressed his wish to leave the company to seek new professional challenges as of 1 June 2024, noted the firm in a press release.

During his tenure in SMS group, André Schneider has held several key positions including Head of Forging Products, Head of Region CIS and, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the leadership of the Region Europe as well as the role of CEO of Paul Wurth SA.

"André Schneider has been instrumental in leading our organisation through significant challenges and changes. I feel grateful for his dedicated service and for his significant contributions to the strategic realignment of both the Region Europe and Paul Wurth," said Jochen Burg, CEO of SMS group.

SMS group noted that Frank Wagener brings to the role nearly two decades of experience within the company, most recently serving as the Chief Administrative and Financial Officer of Paul Wurth since 2011 and as CFO Region Europe of SMS group since 2021. His "profound" financial expertise and "comprehensive" experience are expected to be pivotal in propelling the company forward under the new management structure.

The group added that Paul Tockert has been an "integral" part of Paul Wurth since joining in 2002 and has occupied various central positions within the group. Notably, he has overseen the global Implementation department and, since January 2024, he has been serving as the Executive Vice President Metallurgy of SMS group, as well as a member of Paul Wurth's local management team. His "extensive" expertise in technology and project management is expected to contribute to the company's "continued innovation and success".

SMS group expressed its confidence that "the new leadership duo of Mr Wagener and Mr Tockert will propel the company's growth and reinforce SMS group's commitment to its mission of #turningmetalsgreen".