After the takeover by the French group Faurecia, the automotive supplier Hella from Westphalia is looking for a new person at the top. According to the company, long-time boss Rolf Breidenbach will leave Hella in the middle of the year. Until then, Breidenbach wants to “closely accompany” the integration of both companies. Actually, the 59-year-old would still have a contract until the beginning of 2024. Hella is one of the larger suppliers in Germany, the Lippstadt-based company mainly produces headlights and electronics for cars. Until now, the group has been owned by the Hueck and Röpke entrepreneurial families, who brought Hella to the stock exchange seven years ago. Recently there has been concern that many family members could sell their shares uncontrolled in the future, which would weigh on the share price. Instead, the families decided last summer that they would sell their entire stake to Faurecia. The French company then submitted a takeover bid to all shareholders – and secured around 80 percent of the shares.
Together with Hella, Faurecia forms the seventh largest automotive supplier in the world: a group with around 150,000 employees who, in addition to lights and sensors, also manufactures seats and drive technology. Breidenbach has been in charge of Hella’s management for 18 years. At that time, the engineer with a doctorate was the first non-family manager at the top. According to the announcement, Hella wants to decide “promptly” on his successor.