Dr Bernd Bohr elected chairman of supervisory board

Duderstadt, Germany. Internationally active med-tech company Ottobock is taking a significant step forwards in its transformation to a new legal form. Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH is set to become an SE & Co. KGaA at the end of the year.

In anticipation of the company’s new legal form, a European supervisory board constituted itself today in Duderstadt. The supervisory body is made up of six shareholder representatives as well as a total of four members representing Ottobock’s employees. The employee group includes one representative each from Germany, Austria, France and Sweden. This legally required body will advise and monitor the company’s management team.

The supervisory board has elected Dr Bernd Bohr as chairman from among its members. Bohr, the previous long-standing head of the Bosch Group’s automotive division, brings varied and extensive international management experience to the table and is a recognised industry expert. “‘Technology for life’ was the motto of my previous career in the automotive industry. The opportunity to continue working towards this goal with products that are even closer to people is a fascinating one to me,” said Bohr. “I am excited to be able to support a family company that’s as successful as Ottobock as it continues to develop.”

The supervisory board elected Dr Joachim Kreuzburg, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sartorius AG, as its deputy chairman. “Ottobock is a fascinating company with outstanding employees, impressive products, a great success story and, last but not least, a bold and visionary entrepreneur at its helm,” noted Kreuzburg. “The company is now embarking on a new, very exciting and significant chapter and I am delighted to be able to support Hans Georg Näder, EQT and the management team as we continue to extend this success story into the future.”

“With the establishment of the supervisory body, the longstanding international focus of our company’s activities is now also reflected by the European supervisory board, and will soon be reflected in its legal status as well,” said Prof. Hans Georg Näder, President of Otto Bock Holding GmbH and Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH. “The company will now have a governance that is appropriate for its size and international character. After EQT Partners acquired a 20 per cent share in Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH in June, this move represents the next key step on our path of continued growth and will help prepare us for a potential IPO. I look forward to working together with a strong and capable supervisory board.”

Shareholder representatives:

Employee representatives:

• Dr. Bernd Bohr

• Dr. Joachim Kreuzburg

• Marcus Brennecke

• Prof. Dr. Gesche Joost

• Georgia Näder

• Prof. Dr. Christoph H. Seibt

• Anja Rupprecht

• Marcus Eder

• Jean-Yves Audran

• Rose-Marie Kammarinen