Thomas Geitner joined Henkel in 2008 as Member of the Management Board. He has successfully managed the integration of the National Starch business and has formed a highly competitive global market leader in the adhesives industry. Prior to joining Henkel, he had served as a member of the Management Board of RWE AG and member of the Board of Directors of Vodafone Group PLC in the United Kingdom.

“Henkel regrets and respects this decision. I would like to thank Thomas Geitner for his commitment, expertise and leadership in successfully completing the transformation of our adhesives business. He has played a critical role in shaping a global leader in the adhesives industry in a very challenging economic environment. Under his leadership the adhesives business delivered in 2010 the best result ever to date. In addition, he has also developed his successor. We wish him the best for the future”, said Kasper Rorsted, CEO of Henkel. “The appointment of Jan-Dirk Auris to the Management Board is testament to the strong talent pool at Henkel, which enables us to develop the next generation of leaders in our company.”

Jan-Dirk Auris was born 1968 in Germany and joined Henkel in 1984. He has held various international management positions for Henkel, including five years in the United States and five years in China. Since 2008 he is President for Henkel in the Asia-Pacific region and has managed very successfully the Adhesive Technologies business in the region. 

This appointment follows the recent announcement of Bruno Piacenza (44), who will join the Management Board effective January 1, 2011 and will succeed Friedrich Stara (61) as Executive Vice President Laundry and Home Care at the Management Board in March 2011.

Henkel operates worldwide with leading brands and technologies in three business areas: Laundry & Home Care, Cosmetics/Toiletries and Adhesive Technologies. Founded in 1876, Henkel holds globally leading market positions both in the consumer and industrial businesses with well-known brands such as Persil, Schwarzkopf and Loctite. Henkel employs about 50,000 people and reported sales of 13,573 million euros and adjusted operating profit of 1,364 million euros in fiscal 2009. Henkel’s preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX and the company ranks among the Fortune Global 500.