OREANDA-NEWS. After 40 years on the Board of Directors, 26 of them as CEO and 22 as Chairman of the Board of Directors, Alfred N. Schindler has decided to step down in one year’s time, at the Shareholders Meeting of March 2017. Based on the long-term succession plan, Silvio Napoli, CEO, will be proposed for election to the Board of Directors at the Shareholders Meeting of March 2016, and for election as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors in 2017. Thomas Oetterli will become CEO as of April 1, 2016. After stepping down, Alfred N. Schindler will continue to make himself available as Board member.

On January 14, 2016, the Board of Directors of Schindler Holding Ltd. passed the following resolutions:

  • Alfred N. Schindler will be proposed for re-election as Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Shareholders Meeting of March 22, 2016.
  • Silvio Napoli, CEO, will be proposed for election to the Board of Directors at the Shareholders Meeting of March 22, 2016, and will serve thereafter on the Board’s Supervisory and Nomination Committee.
  • Thomas Oetterli, Member of the Group Executive Committee, responsible for China, will become CEO as of April 1, 2016.
  • Professor Karl Hofstetter, Member of the Board of Directors and Group General Counsel, will be proposed for re-election to the Board of Directors at the Shareholders Meeting of March 22, 2016, and will serve thereafter on the Board’s Supervisory and Nomination Committee.
  • Dr. Rudolf W. Fischer was a member of the Group Executive Committee for 16 years and served four years on the Supervisory and Nomination Committee of the Board. At his own request, he will leave the Supervisory and Nomination Committee. However, he will be proposed for re-election to the Board of Directors and its Compensation Committee at the Shareholders Meeting of March 22, 2016.
  • Furthermore, the Board of Directors acknowledged that Mr. J?rgen Tinggren, member of the Supervisory and Nomination Committee, will – for personal reasons – not be standing for re-election at the Shareholders Meeting of March 22, 2016.

As a result of the above, the full-time Supervisory and Nomination Committee of the Board will – after the Shareholders Meeting of March 22, 2016 – consist of Alfred N. Schindler (Chairman), Professor Karl Hofstetter and Silvio Napoli.

This succession plan will ensure a professional handover to a group of proven executives who can each draw on more than 20 years of domain expertise in the Elevator industry and more than 20 years of service in the Company.

Silvio Napoli has been with the Schindler Group since 1994 and has particularly extensive experience in the Asian market. He has been CEO since 2014; he served as a Member of the Group Executive Committee with responsibility for the Asia-Pacific region from 2008 to 2013; from 2005 to 2008 he was Head of the Jardine Schindler Group; and prior to this he was General Manager of Schindler Hong Kong.

Thomas Oetterli has been with the Schindler Group since 1994. He has been a member of the Group Executive Committee since 2010, and has led the Group’s China operations since 2013. Prior to this he was responsible for Europe North for three years; and from 2006 to 2009 he was in charge of Schindler’s Swiss operations.

Professor Karl Hofstetter, Group General Counsel, has been with the Schindler Group since 1990. From 2002 to 2006 he served as a Member of the Group Executive Committee, and he has been a Member of the Board of Directors since 2006. Professor Hofstetter is an internationally-reputed Business Law Professor and Barrister. He will now make his extensive legal expertise directly available to the Supervisory and Nomination Committee.