Heidenheim/Germany. Stephan Schaller, director of the global motorcycle division of the BMW Group, will join the Shareholders’ Committee and the Supervisory Board of Voith GmbH on 1 October 2015. He succeeds Professor Bernd Gottschalk, former member of the executive board of Mercedes-Benz AG, who will leave both bodies after twenty years of service upon reaching the age limit stipulated by the charter.

Schaller (born 1957) studied mechanical engineering at the Aachen Institute of Technology. He moved on to management and directorial positions within the BMW Group from 1981 to 1999. After four years spent first as director of technical planning and subsequently in technical management for the refrigeration technology division of Linde AG, Schaller joined Volkswagen AG in 2004 as director of production for the commercial vehicles division. From 2007 onwards he was the spokesperson for the executive board of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. In 2010 he became deputy chairman of the executive board of Schott AG before being named director of the global motorcycle division of the BMW Group in June 2012.

“With his extensive corporate experience, particularly in the automotive industry, Stephan Schaller is a valuable addition to the Shareholders’ Committee and Supervisory Board of Voith. We are pleased to have won over such a prominent figure in the German business world for Voith,” said Professor Hans-Peter Keitel, Chairman of the Shareholders’ Committee and Supervisory Board of Voith GmbH.

Professor Bernd Gottschalk served in managerial positions at Mercedes-Benz AG for many years and was responsible for the commercial vehicles division from 1992 to 1996 as a member of the executive board. He was president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) from 1997 to 2007.

“Professor Gottschalk was part of the family-owned company Voith for 20 years as a member of both corporate bodies. He contributed his knowledge, experience and personality to the work of the Shareholders’ Committee and Supervisory Board and gave important impetus for the cooperative work. We are grateful to him for his great commitment and his loyalty,” said Professor Keitel.

Voith sets standards in the markets energy, oil & gas, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, Voith employs more than 39,000 people, generates € 5.3 billion in sales, operates in about 50 countries around the world and is today one of the largest family-owned companies in Europe.