“The integration process of the recently acquired National Starch businesses has started excellently. Alois Linder's decision to hand over his office at an earlier date is an important step to maintain both the speed and continuity of this major project,” says Kasper Rorsted, Chief Executive Officer of Henkel. “My special thanks go to Alois Linder. He has very successfully managed our Adhesives business and set the course for the future. I am convinced that Thomas Geitner will successfully continue the further development and internationalization of our Adhesives businesses.”

Thomas Geitner, who has been a member of the Henkel Management Board since March 1, 2008, has had a highly successful career in the technologies and telecommunication businesses. He held senior management positions in international companies. Following assignments at Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG and Leybold AG, he was a member of the Management Board of RWE AG. Subsequently, for almost seven years Geitner was a member of the Board of Directors of Vodafone Group PLC in UK. During this time he was responsible among others for the successful integration of the former Mannesmann businesses, the creation of the worldwide Vodafone brand, the development of global products and the consolidation of both the worldwide infrastructure and purchasing.

In his nearly 30 years with Henkel, Alois Linder has been exceptionally successful in various functions. In 2002 he was appointed Executive Vice President Consumer and Craftsmen Adhesives. In 2007 Linder led the merger of the Henkel Adhesives and Technologies business sectors. Since then he has headed Adhesives Technologies, Henkel’s largest business sector.