Over more than 35 years, Martin Müller has transformed Tricor Packaging & Logistics AG from a small supplier of corrugated board and wooden packaging into an internationally successful and technologically leading manufacturer of corrugated board packaging solutions. His outstanding commitment, strategic vision and his unconditional will to achieve entrepreneurial excellence have shaped Tricor and made it what it is today: a leading and high-performance solution provider for industrial packaging in Europe.
In 2019, Martin Müller and his co-owners decided to sell the majority of the shares to a strategic investor in preparation for a long-term succession plan. Since then, 100% of the shares have been held by the Japanese Rengo Co. Ltd, a leading international provider of packaging solutions, which sees Tricor as an important basis for expanding its international activities. An investment programme for acquisitions and further capacity expansions for the next few years clearly underlines our continuing growth plans.
When Martin Müller sold his shares in 2019, he declared his willingness to actively accompany the future development of Tricor over the transition phase and to promote its further strategic positioning. The course has been set. At the age of 60, Martin Müller will retire from the Executive Board on 15 May 2022; however, he will continue to support the company in an advisory capacity until January 2023. Even if the current geopolitical situation is troubling, with his support we continue our strategic growth plans including acquisitions and a new Greenfield production site. This will open promising new opportunities and create additional value for customers, employees and owners alike. The foundation for a successful, growth-oriented development of Tricor Packaging & Logistics AG has thus been laid.
Mr. Robert Wiblishauser, Tricor's long-standing Chief Financial Officer and former Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board, will succeed Mr. Müller as the Chairman of the Executive Board on 16 May 2022. Klaus Wiblishauser will become the new Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board. Mr Thomas Aust and Mr Co Kroon will remain active in their current functions on the Executive Board. Dr Günther Burkhard is newly appointed CFO; Nico Weis will strengthen the Executive Board team as a deputy member. The Greenfield project will continue to be implemented under the leadership of Markus Schmidt.
On behalf of the Executive Board, the Supervisory Board and the shareholders, we would like to thank Mr Müller for everything he has achieved for Tricor over the past 35 years and wish him all the best for the next phase of his career. We also wish the new Executive Board every success in the further growth and development of the Tricor Group.