Visual Print’s MD moves To Solopress
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Koenig & Bauer has announced that Koenig & Bauer Sheetfed CEO Ralph Sammeck will retire, with his replacement due to take over from February 1st
Koenig & Bauer has announced that Ralph Sammeck, chief executive officer of Koenig & Bauer Sheetfed, will retire on June 30th 2025.
Sammeck, who is also a member of the executive board and chief data officer at Koenig & Bauer AG, began his career at the company in 2000. He first worked as a sales director and authorized signatory before becoming chief executive officer and president of Koenig & Bauer North America in 2002. Sammeck has been member of the executive board since 2007.
Under Sammeck’s leadership, Koenig & Bauer’s market share has tripled, according to the company. Its product portfolio has expanded in that time to include pre-press software and post-press machines as well as a range of digital printing solutions.
Markus Weiss will replace Sammeck as managing director and chief executive officer of Koenig & Bauer Sheetfed from February 1st, 2025. Weiss will also become a member of the group management reporting to the executive board.
Dr Andreas Pleßke, chief executive officer of Koenig & Bauer, says: “Ralf Sammeck has succeeded in continuously establishing the Sheetfed segment as a complete solution provider and expanding market leadership in the packaging sector.
“In doing so, he has positioned the division for the future. With his instinct for customers and markets, he is a role model for the sales team worldwide.”
Speaking of his successor, Sammeck comments: “Markus Weiss is a strong, international leader who has built up an excellent network over the past almost 20 years and brings enormous experience in our industry. I am particularly pleased about this because our customers are very important to me.”
Speaking of what he will focus on in his new role, Weiss adds: “Offset printing will remain the leading technology in packaging and commercial printing in the long term, complemented by innovative solutions in the pre-press and post-press areas. At the same time, digital printing is becoming increasingly important.
“The optimal combination of both technologies opens up new growth opportunities for our customers and shows that their joint use will shape the future of the printing industry. I am delighted to be able to contribute my knowledge and experience in this exciting field to the leading packaging manufacturer with a great team.”
In December 2024, Koenig & Bauer announced a series of group realignments including eliminating a senior position and reducing its company segments from three to two.
The changes were reportedly initiated by Pleßke in close consultation with the company’s supervisory board.
The position of central chief operating officer was eliminated after Michael Ulverich left the company by mutual agreement on November 30th, 2024.
