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Koenig & Bauer: Management Succession in the Paper & Packaging Segment

Press release from the issuing company

Markus Weiss succeeds Ralf Sammeck, who will leave the company in June 2025 following a planned generational change

  • Ralf Sammeck, Member of the Executive Board of Koenig & Bauer AG and CDO as well as CEO of the Sheetfed segment, in future Paper & Packaging, will leave the company as planned in June 2025
  • Markus Weiss will succeed him as CEO of the Paper & Packaging Sheetfed System segment and Member of the Group Management on February 1, 2025

After 25 years at Koenig & Bauer, Ralf Sammeck, CEO of Koenig & Bauer Sheetfed, Member of the Executive Board and CDO of Koenig & Bauer AG, will retire on June 30, 2025. In 2000, Ralf Sammeck began his career as Sales Director and Authorized Signatory at Koenig & Bauer and became CEO & President of Koenig & Bauer North America in 2002. He has been Member of the Executive Board of Koenig & Bauer AG since 2007, and in his role as CEO he is responsible for the Sheetfed segment and later also for the tasks of the CDO. For around 18 years he has played a key role in steering the strategic direction of this segment in the group. Under his leadership, the market share tripled and the product portfolio was expanded to include prepress software and postpress machines as well as digital printing – supported by digital solutions for the entire workflow process and digital service products (Kyana).

Dr Andreas Pleßke, CEO of Koenig & Bauer, emphasizes: “Ralf Sammeck has succeeded in continuously establishing the Sheetfed segment as a complete solution provider and expanding market leadership in the packaging sector. In doing so, he has positioned the division for the future. With his instinct for customers and markets, he is a role model for the sales team worldwide.”

Succession arranged in good time

The successor to this key role has been prepared accordingly to ensure a sustainable and orderly handover in the interests of customer satisfaction. An excellent successor for this position has been found in Markus Weiss. He will take up his position as Managing Director / CEO of Koenig & Bauer Sheetfed AG & Co. KG on February 1, 2025 and will be a member of the Group Management reporting to the Executive Board.

“Markus Weiss is a strong, international leader who has built up an excellent network over the past almost 20 years and brings enormous experience in our industry. I am particularly pleased about this because our customers are very important to me”, assures Ralf Sammeck.

Koenig & Bauer is the only manufacturer that can print on almost all substrates using almost all technologies. By using the synergies between these processes, Koenig & Bauer always delivers tailor-made solutions that are precisely tailored to the individual needs of its customers.

“Offset printing will remain the leading technology in packaging and commercial printing in the long term, complemented by innovative solutions in the prepress and postpress areas. At the same time, digital printing is becoming increasingly important. The optimal combination of both technologies opens up new growth opportunities for our customers and shows that their joint use will shape the future of the printing industry. I am delighted to be able to contribute my knowledge and experience in this exciting field to the leading packaging manufacturer with a great team”, confirms Markus Weiss.