• Focus on transformation and decarbonization of steel production requires expansion of the Executive Board.
• Dr. Arnd Köfler as Chief Technology Officer responsible for combined areas Innovation and “Integrated Climate Strategy” in his directorate.
• As of May 1, 2022, Dr. Heike Denecke-Arnold will be a member of the Executive Board responsible for the operating production areas.
• Markus Grolms confirmed as member of the Executive Board until March 31, 2028.

In its extraordinary meeting on April 7, 2022, the Supervisory Board of thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG has approved the proposal to expand the Executive Board of thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG as from May 1, 2022. Dr. Heike Denecke-Arnold will be Chief Operating Officer responsible for the operating production areas and thus the entire area from iron and steel production down to the finishing stages as well as quality and logistics.

Increasing challenges

The challenges are manifold: With its Strategy 20-30, thyssenkrupp Steel puts the focus on its operating performance and the strategic orientation of the steel business. Moreover, the company has to manage an unprecedented transformation: To achieve the goal of making steel production climate-neutral by 2045, it has to bring about massive changes in the plant structure and operation. The successful development of climate-neutral production is of crucial importance for the future viability and competitiveness of thyssenkrupp Steel. Against this background, the Supervisory Board has resolved to expand the Executive Board of the Steel segment to include the function of an operating Executive Board member.

Experienced steel expert Dr. Denecke-Arnold to join the Executive Board

The responsibility for transformation and production will be divided in future. As from May 1, 2022, Dr. Heike Denecke-Arnold will be responsible for production operations from upstream operations down to the finishing stages, as well as for quality and logistics. This directorate will become the driver of the operating production performance in the company. Dr. Denecke-Arnold who has a PhD in engineering, has held various positions at thyssenkrupp since 1999, most recently that of CEO of the Management Board of thyssenkrupp Hohenlimburg GmbH at Precision Steel in Hohenlimburg since October 2016. Through her varied experience within the Group, Dr. Denecke-Arnold has gained a wide range of expertise, both in the production area as well as on the strategy, customer and market sides.

Focus on Strategy 20-30, transformation and innovation

To take account of the paramount importance of the transformation, it is managed in a separate directorate. Dr. Arnd Köfler will be responsible for the optimization of the production network adopted as part of the Strategy 20-30 as well as for the entire decarbonization process of the steel segment. Moreover, there will be the Innovation area comprising the entire research and development work, an integrated innovation and transformation directorate thus being created at thyssenkrupp Steel.

Premature extension of Markus Grolms‘ appointment

Furthermore, the Supervisory Board has confirmed Markus Grolms as member of the Executive Board and extended his appointment as Labor Director and Chief Human Resources Officer until March 31, 2028.  In the years to come, a main focus area of the Labor Directorate will be the support and management of the transformation.