18.04.2018

Palfinger announces new CEO

Palfinger has appointed Andreas Klauser, 53, as its new chief executive, following an extensive search.

Klauser joins the company from Case IH and Steyr where he is president and a member of the group executive council of CNH (Case New Holland) Industrial. He will take up his new role at Palfinger at the start of June. The move follows the decision by Herbert Ortner to step down after his contract expired at the end of 2017. See Herbert Ortner to step down

He joined Case IH in Austria in 1990 as export manager for Steyr tractors in Western and Eastern Europe. He was promoted to business director, Austria and Central Europe for the Case IH, New Holland Agriculture and Steyr brands in 1997, adding the role of sales and marketing director, Poland, in 2001.

At the end of 2006, he was appointed general manager Europe Case IH and Steyr, becoming brand president for operations in 2009, when he also joined the group executive council of CNH Industrial. In 2012 he became chief operating officer for CNH Industrial for the Europe Middle East and Africa region and chairman of the Iveco Magirus board, moving into his current role in 2015.
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Andreas Klauser

Palfinger chairman Hubert Palfinger junior said: “We are pleased to have found such an experienced executive as Andreas Klauser. Mr. Klauser has international market and sales experience in the area of agricultural machinery and commercial vehicles and satisfies all the requirements necessary to translate the future challenges of the digital transformation into sustainable corporate success for the Palfinger group.”

Klauser added: “This management position at Palfinger is a challenge that I am happy to accept. Palfinger is the industry’s benchmark for innovations, strategic growth and success through the proximity to its customers all over the world. Together we will tackle the next stage in our process of profitability enhancement and international growth.”