Siegwerk expands management team

Printing inks and coatings provider, Siegwerk has expanded its existing management team. The company is establishing a group executive committee, which will develop, implement, and oversee key decisions and strategies effective January 1, 2024.

In addition to the current members of the board of management – Dr. Nicolas Wiedmann, chief executive officer; Dr. Jan Breitkopf, president EMEA; Ralf Hildenbrand, president Americas and Dr. Oliver Wittmann, chief financial officer – Ashish Pradhan, president Asia, will also be part of the newly-formed committee.

Shaping the company’s future across all regions

The inclusion of Pradhan in the group executive committee underlines the significance of the Asian region in Siegwerk’s global strategy. The company believes Asia, along with EMEA and the Americas, has immense growth potential to shape the company’s future. The company reports that the new management structure will help Siegwerk to drive innovation strategies, manage products flexibly across locations and continue to pursue its strategic goal as a circular and digital packaging solutions provider.

Dr Oliver Wittmann hands over CFO role to Dirk Weissenfeldt

In 2024, there will be another leadership change in the newly-formed group executive committee. After more than 20 years, Dr Oliver Wittmann will leave the board and his position as CFO on April 30, 2024. Through the end of 2025, he will remain available to advise the supervisory board upon request.

Wittmann has been with Siegwerk for more than two decades as CFO. ‘With his profound financial expertise and his extraordinary dedication, Oliver has made a lasting contribution to the company’s success over more than 20 years while always acting true to our motto Ink, Heart & Soul,’ said Dr Nicolas Wiedmann, CEO at Siegwerk.

Wittmann will be succeeded by Dirk Weissenfeldt, vice president, flexible packaging EMEA at Siegwerk, who has held different financial and operational positions at the company over the past 17 years. He will take over the CFO role on May 1, 2024.

‘Siegwerk will continue to be very well positioned for the future with its new management structure. Thanks to an impressive level of knowhow, experience, and dedication, we are ready to further expand our business and drive innovation in the packaging industry,’ said Wiedmann.

Ashish Pradhan

Ashish Pradhan joined Siegwerk in 2015. With Siegwerk, he held the positions of chief operating officer and chief executive officer of Siegwerk India as well as president India and Greater China. At the beginning of 2021, he was appointed president Asia. In this role, he is responsible for the business in India, Greater China, and Southeast Asia.

Before joining Siegwerk, he worked in different capacities within the global packaging industry for companies including International Paper, Henkel, Positive Packaging, and Huhtamaki. Pradhan has a degree in mechanical engineering and post-graduate qualifications in management.

Dr Oliver Wittmann

Dr Oliver Wittmann is CFO of the Siegwerk group since 2001. In addition to finance, controlling, tax and treasury, he is also responsible for global Information Technology and Legal Affairs and Compliance.

Before joining Siegwerk, Wittmann held various positions at a global technical service provider and at a trust company as an investment manager. Wittmann began his career working for a management consultancy after studying business administration and gaining his doctorate.

Dirk Weissenfeldt

Dirk Weissenfeldt joined Siegwerk in 2006. He has held a variety of positions within the company, including regional CFO for Europe, Middle East and Africa and vice president for the business unit –paper and board in Europe, Middle East, and Africa. In 2017, he became vice president for the business unit – flexible packaging in Europe, Middle East, and Africa.

Before joining Siegwerk, Weissenfeldt worked in management consultancies, including Deloitte. He has a degree in business administration.