Gerd Liebig is to take the wheel of Sumitomo (SHI) Demag, succeeding incumbent CEO Dr Tetsuya Okamura as of January 1st 2017.
Sumitomo (SHI) Demag
Sumitomo
CEO Dr Tetsuya Okamura (center), with Sumitomo (SHI) Demag‘s new CEO Gerd Liebig (left) and CTO Andreas Schramm (right).
After eight years in the role, Dr Okamura will move over to oversee Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd.
Dr Okamura has been developing Sumitomo (SHI) Demag into a financially strong company with a clear strategic focus on the company’s core competences in production and product portfolio. The company invested considerably in its production sites and subsidiaries; lastly a huge amount in machines for Schwaig’s production. At the time being additional means are being provided to support “eService” and to expand the subsidiaries.
Liebig joined Sumitomo (SHI) Demag on April 1st 2015 as CSO building on an illustrious CV that included working for Sumitomo (SHI) Demag predecessor company Demag Plastics and ENGEL. With Sumitomo (SHI) Demag’s new subsidiaries in Hungary, Austria and Spain, Gerd Liebig strengthened the company’s advisory skills as well as its problem solving competence and internationalized the customer service.
"Since he joined the company, Gerd Liebig consequently set the focus on being innovative," said Dr Okamura. "He inspired employees and customers by being such a competent, convincing and exhilarant person. Gerd Liebig is having a considerable part in the company’s distinctive growth during the last year. The market shares in all strategic market segments increased considerably.
"I am convinced to give Sumitomo (SHI) Demag into good hands when handing over the business to the new Managing Board."
General Manager of Plastics Machinery Division Sumitomo Heavy Industries in Chiba, Japan, Kazuo Hiraoka was full of praise for Dr Okumara's Sumitomo (SHI) legacy, describing the company as healthy, economically stable, innovative and prosperous thanks to Dr Okamura's management - success Liebig is keen to build on.
"Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is having a considerable potential to develop synergies in the production strategy and in sales and service," he said. "With CTO Andreas Schramm we will continue to set the company on the way to internationalism and to further incorporate our activities with Sumitomo’s Plastics Machinery Division and Headquarters in Japan.
"We have the vision to be the first choice as a partner for customers worldwide looking for a solution in the injection moulding process. In the long run we aspire to be the industry’s trendsetter for creating customer value and achieve and secure the position of the world market leader for all- electric machines and in the segment Packaging. We focus on non-complicated, standardised and economic solutions for injection moulding machines and applications. Our sales and service teams support our customers fast and competent – all around the globe."
