The Hansgrohe Group mourns the loss of Siegfried Gänßlen. The former Chairman of the Executive Board has passed away at the age of 79. Gänßlen is remembered as the architect behind the international expansion and professional structuring of the faucet and shower specialist from the Black Forest.
Siegfried Gänßlen joined what was then Hansgrohe GmbH & Co. KG in 1994. In his role as Chief Financial Officer and Deputy CEO, he laid the foundations for profitable international growth from 1999 onward, making the company a global player. Under his leadership, the growth markets in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East were given a prominent place in the company's strategy. From 2008 until his retirement in 2014, he led the management team as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
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Strategic internationalisation and innovation
According to current CEO Hans Jürgen Kalmbach, Gänßlen's contribution to Hansgrohe's success story is hard to overstate. During his tenure, the focus was not only on geographical expansion but also on closely monitoring results and strengthening the brand's innovative strength. In addition to his work for Hansgrohe, the Stuttgart-born CEO was an authority in the field of controlling, serving for many years as chairman of the International Association of Controllers (ICV).
A mentor for the industry
Within Hansgrohe, Gänßlen was known for his ability to recognise and nurture talent. "Many of us, myself included, owe a great deal to him," Kalmbach said in an official statement. According to the current management, the focus on talent development and a holistic understanding of business processes remain the company's core values, a tribute to Gänßlen's vision.
With his passing, the sanitary industry loses an influential executive who transformed Hansgrohe from a European family business into a global market leader.
Source: Moebelmarkt.de
