Stihl gets a new human resources director. The previous CHRO Dr. Michael Prochaska will retire at the end of August. He is followed by Dr. Ulrich Braig. He will begin his work at Stihl on June 1st – so there will be a common transition period – and then from September 1st he will take full responsibility for the board’s legal and human resources departments for the next three years.
Dr. Nikolas Stihl, Chairman of the Stihl Advisory Board and Supervisory Board, said in the statement about Braig: “As a doctor of law, he has extensive management experience in human resources, which he has gained in both family businesses and listed companies. In addition, he can look back on an impressive track record in implementing large-scale transformation initiatives.” (translated from English, editor’s note)
Ulrich Braig: From IBM to GEA
Braig’s CV shows this as follows: He began his professional career as an HR manager at IBM, then was general manager of human resources at the Windmühle & Hölscher Group. He later worked as Executive Vice President Human Resources & Social Affairs at Hauni Maschinenbau and as Head of Corporate Human Resources at Körber. Most recently he was CHRO at the DAX company GEA. At the turn of the year, Dr. Nadine Sterley as Chief People & Sustainability Officer and Labor Director.
At Stihl he will work for a company that has recorded sales growth in recent years. Nevertheless, the future of the German location is facing profound changes. According to the current board of directors, the switch from gasoline to battery-powered products requires a realignment in production and administrative areas. There should also be a cost reduction program for this, whereby cost and personnel structures should be adjusted. The restructuring should be carried out in a socially acceptable manner – including through fluctuation, part-time work models and voluntary agreements.
Lena Onderka is editorially responsible for the Employee Experience & Retention area – which also includes, for example, the topics of BGM and employee surveys. She also looks after the topic of diversity. She is also the editorial contact for the German Human Resources Summit and the HR Forum Banking.
