The new year kicked off with a change in senior management at Koehler Paper, Germany, according to an announcement this past week. After eight years as COO at Koehler, Werner Ruckenbrod retired at the end of December. The highlights of his career at Koehler include acquisition of Katz in Weisenbach, establishment of Koehler Renewable Energy and the associated construction, and acquisition of shares in several biomass combined heat and power plants and in wind power plants. Construction of the logistics center with high-bay warehouse in Oberkirch was another milestone.

With well-founded technical expertise based on many years of experience in senior management positions in the paper industry, Stefan Karrer (photo) took over for Werner Ruckenbrod on January 1. Chairman of the VDP Curatorium for Research and Technology and a member of the VDP Board of Directors, Dr. Stefan Karrer is well known in the industry. Following his studies in Munich and Darmstadt, he kicked off his career in the Lecta Group in Italy. He then switched to Sappi in Ehingen, where he was head of production and then head of technology for paper and pulp. He then went on to oversee large-scale investments and projects. Karrer was appointed CEO of Sappi Alfeld in 2010. At that time, he managed to expand the factory and transform it into the market leader in one-side-coated paper.

With his appointment to COO of the Koehler Group, Karrer now takes on a new challenge. Koehler produces more than 500,000 metric tpy of paper and paperboard, and is a market leader in thermal paper and pulp board. In addition to the paper sector, the specialized paper manufacturer, which can look back on more than 200 years of company history, is also involved in the renewable energies industry. The company also promotes innovative technologies.

Working with CFO Frank Lendowski and CEO Kai Furler, Karrer will continue to consolidate the Koehler Group, which is based in Oberkirch, and play a key role in shaping the future of the company.