The undisclosed health problems of Heidelberg CEO Gerold Linzbach has forced the press giant to appoint CFO Dirk Kaliebe as its temporary deputy chairman who will take on the chief executive's duties.
Linzbach has been on sick leave since early in June and his recovery is “likely to be delayed longer than expected,” according to a company statement:
The Supervisory Board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) resolved today at its meeting to appoint Dirk Kaliebe as deputy Chairman of the Management Board of the Company, because the recovery of the Chairman of the Management Board, Dr. Gerold Linzbach, is likely to be delayed longer than expected. In his new function, Dirk Kaliebe will take the chair of the Management Board of Heidelberg as well as the functions of the Industrial Relations Director (Arbeitsdirektor) until the return of Dr. Linzbach. He will also present the report of the Management Board at this year’s Annual Shareholders’ Meeting on 24 July in Mannheim.
“The time is open for Dr Linzbach’s recovery process,” said a Heidelberg spokesperson. “He is getting healthy again and will return when he’s completely fit.”
Linzbach has been in the job about three years and recently oversaw the launch of Heidelberg's new brand identity and strategic reorientation. “The new brand identity reinforces the customer benefits that Heidelberg is offering through its all-inclusive portfolio of digital and offset printing, workflows, consumables, and services," he said at the time.
Kaliebe has been employed at Heidelberg since 1998, and became CFO in 2006. He’s also head of Heidelberg Financial Services.