SMAG Mobile Antenna Masts AG has appointed Alexander Guntzel as Chief Operating Officer and a member of the Management Board, effective November 16, 2026, the company announced on October 27, 2026. The Supervisory Board approved the appointment, with Guntzel's term running until December 31, 2028. He succeeds Kai Oppermann, who will step down from the Management Board by mutual agreement at the end of November 15, 2026.
Guntzel brings more than two decades of industry experience and operational management of international manufacturing companies. Since 2022, he has worked for the investment firm AEQUITA, most recently as Director Operations, while also serving as Chief Operating Officer of the Willi Elbe Group. His expertise includes the transformation of industrial companies and the establishment, ramp-up and further development of production sites.
As COO, Guntzel will be responsible for production and quality management. The company said the focus will be on scaling manufacturing, ensuring reliable production processes and continuing to enhance quality management. The appointment comes as SMAG seeks to strengthen its core areas as a provider of sophisticated antenna mast systems for defense and security applications.
Esra Himmel, Chair of the Supervisory Board, said: "With Alexander Guntzel, we are gaining a Management Board member with extensive operational experience and hands-on expertise in the industrialisation and scaling of complex production processes. Quality, reliability and the ability to deliver are crucial to our customers in the defense and security sectors. We very much look forward to working with him."
Ulrich Feindt, Chair of the Management Board, added: "Our antenna mast systems perform demanding tasks in mobile communications – particularly in defense and security applications. With Alexander Guntzel, we aim to further develop our industrial capabilities in a targeted manner and align our manufacturing with our customers' requirements. His experience in production ramp-ups and the operational management of complex industrial companies will be a valuable addition to our team."
Feindt also thanked Oppermann for his dedication and contribution to SMAG's development, wishing him well for the future.
Founded in 1974 and headquartered in Salzgitter, Germany, SMAG develops and manufactures mission-critical mobile antenna mast systems for military and defense applications, generating substantially all of its net sales from defense. The company describes itself as a leading European specialist manufacturer of self-supporting, guy-wire-free mobile antenna mast systems for military applications. It serves more than 50 defense primes, OEMs and government agencies worldwide, including 15 NATO militaries, and employs approximately 170 people.
The leadership change matters for the defense industrial base because SMAG's products support mobile communications in demanding military and security environments. Guntzel's mandate to scale manufacturing and enhance quality management could affect how reliably SMAG delivers antenna mast systems to NATO forces and defense contractors, particularly as demand for mission-critical equipment remains strong. For investors, the appointment signals continuity in operational strategy while bringing in a specialist with a track record in industrial transformation. The original release is available via NEWMEDIAWIRE.
