GEA Group AG will undergo a leadership change at the top of the company, the Supervisory Board announced on November 12, 2026. CEO Stefan Klebert (61) will step down from his position at his own request and by mutual agreement with the Supervisory Board following the conclusion of the 2027 Annual General Meeting on April 28, 2027. The changes resolved by the Supervisory Board will take effect on April 29, 2027.
Klaus Stojentin (59), currently a member of the Executive Board and CEO of the Nutrition Plant Engineering Division, has been appointed as Stefan Klebert’s successor for a five-year term. Stojentin holds a degree in Energy and Utilities Supply Engineering and has been with the Group since 2003. He previously led GEA’s separator business for several years, which is now part of the Pure Flow Processing Division. In a related move, Dr. Andreas Seeringer (46), who has been leading GEA’s Farm Technologies Division since 2024, will join the Executive Board for a three-year term as CEO of the Nutrition Plant Engineering Division, succeeding Stojentin.
Stefan Klebert had previously informed the Supervisory Board of his wish to end his contract early in order to complete the orderly transition of the company’s leadership after more than eight successful years in office and the successful restructuring of the Executive Board at the beginning of the year. His contract was due to run until the end of 2028. Klebert will fully support the transition process in his role as CEO until the upcoming Annual General Meeting.
“Stefan Klebert has led GEA with strategic foresight and extraordinary passion. At a time of overlapping global crises and challenges for the entire industry, his more than eight years in office represent an outstanding achievement,” said Prof. Dieter Kempf, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of GEA. “With Klaus Stojentin, another successful and dynamic leader will take over. He has known GEA for 23 years, both from the perspective of an engineer and a strategist and manager. He has successfully led two divisions and will continue to drive GEA forward on its successful trajectory.”
Klebert took over as CEO in February 2019 at a challenging time. Under his leadership, GEA underwent a fundamental transformation, integrating sustainability as a core pillar of its corporate strategy. The company continuously increased order intake, revenue, profitability, and market capitalization, while raising its guidance several times. It achieved important milestones of its corporate and climate strategies ahead of schedule. As a result, GEA joined the DAX40 in September 2025, becoming the first and, to date, only pure-play machinery and plant engineering company to do so. Further information about GEA and its leadership is available, and the original release can be viewed on www.newmediawire.com.
“With great passion and commitment, I have led GEA through an important phase of its development. Following the successful formation and onboarding of a new, ambitious Executive Board team in January 2026, now is the right time to hand over the leadership of GEA,” said Stefan Klebert. “With Klaus Stojentin, my preferred successor is now taking over. He knows our company like few others do.” Stojentin commented, “I would like to sincerely thank the Supervisory Board and Stefan Klebert for the trust they have placed in me. GEA is a great company with many people who are passionate about what they do and demonstrate tremendous ingenuity every day. The company has made great strides in recent years. I want to build on this foundation and continue to drive GEA’s successful development.”
The transition matters to investors and industry observers because GEA is a global supplier of systems and components to the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries, with more than 18,000 employees and revenues of about EUR 5.5 billion in fiscal year 2025. Its technology processes every second pharma separator for essential healthcare products and every third chicken nugget, among other products. A stable succession at the top is likely to reassure customers and shareholders that the company’s strategic direction, including its sustainability focus, will continue. Additional details, including images of stefan-klebert, klaus-stojentin and Dr. Andreas Seeringer, accompany the announcement.
