On 1 October 2017, Hanns-Peter Knaebel will join Röchling's (Mannheim / Germany; www.roechling.com) executive board and will be deputy chairman of the group's Medicine division. He will take over as CEO from Ludger Bartels, who retires at the end of the year, on 1 January 2018. Erwin Doll (Automotive), Franz Lübbers (Industrial) and Steffen Rowold (Finance) will remain members of the executive board.

Over the last eight years, Knaebel has been CEO at Aesculap and represented the company on the executive board of medical device manufacturer B. Braun (Melsungen / Germany; www.bbraun.com). The company says it is enthusiastic to have Knaebel join as an experienced business leader and renowned "medical technician," since medical technology is the most important strategic growth segment for the Röchling group.