Semperit AG Holding's Supervisory Board has appointed Richard Kelsey as a member of the Executive Board and Chief Financial Officer, effective November 1, 2026. Kelsey will succeed Helmut Sorger, who is leaving the company by mutual agreement at the end of October 2026 after more than four years in the role to pursue new professional opportunities. The announcement, made via NEWMEDIAWIRE, positions the Vienna-based elastomer manufacturer for a leadership transition at a pivotal moment for its growth strategy.
Kelsey brings more than 25 years of international experience in finance, mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets. He most recently served as CFO of Constantia Flexibles, a leading flexible packaging provider, for over five years, where he managed numerous international transactions and transformation projects. Prior to that, he was Head of M&A at the same group, leading acquisition activities. He also gained transaction and capital markets expertise at Raiffeisen Investment, managing cross-border M&A projects in Central and Eastern Europe, and as an equity analyst at Cazenove in London. His term on the Semperit Executive Board will run until October 31, 2029.
Supervisory Board Chairman Cord Prinzhorn emphasized the strategic rationale behind the appointment: "With Richard Kelsey, we have gained a CFO who combines extensive M&A expertise with in-depth knowledge of the capital markets. Together with Manfred Stanek and Gerfried Eder, our Executive Board is exceptionally well-positioned to successfully shape Semperit's next phase of growth. Our shared goal is to further strengthen the company's position and thus create additional long-term value for our shareholders."
The leadership change comes as Semperit credits Sorger with driving a transformation and realignment that has bolstered profitability. Prinzhorn noted that Sorger's focus on lean structures, cost discipline, and value creation has sustainably strengthened the group's profitability and competitiveness, with the boost in profitability in the current 2026 financial year reflecting this course. "Semperit is clearly positioned in strategic terms and very well equipped for the next phase of growth," Prinzhorn said, thanking Sorger for his contributions.
For investors and industry observers, the CFO transition is significant because Semperit operates in over 100 countries with around 4,000 employees, 15 production sites, and reported revenue of EUR 662.4 million and EBITDA of EUR 79.5 million in the 2025 financial year. The company's two divisions—Semperit Industrial Applications and Semperit Engineered Applications—serve industrial customers with products ranging from hydraulic hoses to escalator handrails and conveyor belts. Kelsey's transaction and capital markets background could shape how the group pursues acquisitions, portfolio moves, and shareholder value creation. The full details of the change are available in the original release at www.newmediawire.com, while corporate information is published at www.semperitgroup.com.
