Semperit AG Holding has appointed Richard Kelsey as a member of the Executive Board and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective November 1, 2026. He will succeed Helmut Sorger, who is leaving the company by mutual agreement at the end of October 2026 after more than four years in the role. The announcement, made via NEWMEDIAWIRE, signals a strategic move to bolster Semperit's financial leadership as it enters its next phase of growth.
The appointment matters because Kelsey brings over 25 years of international experience in finance, M&A, and capital markets. Most recently, he served as CFO of Constantia Flexibles, a leading flexible packaging provider, for more than five years, where he managed numerous international transactions and transformation projects. Prior to that, he was Head of M&A at Constantia, leading the group's acquisition activities. His earlier roles include managing cross-border M&A projects at Raiffeisen Investment and serving as an equity analyst at Cazenove in London. This depth of expertise is expected to be instrumental in shaping Semperit's growth strategy.
Supervisory Board Chairman Cord Prinzhorn emphasized the importance of the appointment: “With Richard Kelsey, we have gained a CFO who combines extensive M&A expertise with in-depth knowledge of the capital markets. Together with Manfred Stanek and Gerfried Eder, our Executive Board is exceptionally well-positioned to successfully shape Semperit’s next phase of growth. Our shared goal is to further strengthen the company’s position and thus create additional long-term value for our shareholders.” Kelsey's term on the Executive Board will run until October 31, 2029, providing stability and continuity.
The leadership change comes at a critical juncture for Semperit. The company has undergone a significant transformation under Sorger's financial stewardship. Prinzhorn credited Sorger with driving and shaping Semperit's transformation and successful realignment, highlighting his focus on lean structures, cost discipline, and value creation, which sustainably strengthened the Group's profitability and competitiveness. The boost in profitability in the current 2026 financial year reflects this course. Semperit is now clearly positioned strategically and well-equipped for the next phase of growth, making Kelsey's appointment a key factor in sustaining this momentum.
Semperit AG Holding is an internationally oriented group that develops, produces, and sells high-quality elastomer products for industrial customers in over 100 countries through its two divisions: Semperit Industrial Applications and Semperit Engineered Applications. With around 4,000 employees worldwide, 15 production sites, and revenue of EUR 662.4 million in the 2025 financial year, the company has a strong global footprint. For more information about Semperit, visit www.semperitgroup.com.
