Semperit AG Holding has appointed Richard Kelsey to its Executive Board as Chief Financial Officer, effective November 1, 2026, the company announced. Kelsey 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 appointment, reported via NEWMEDIAWIRE, comes as the Austrian elastomer manufacturer positions itself for a new phase of expansion.
Supervisory Board Chairman Cord Prinzhorn said Kelsey brings extensive M&A expertise and in-depth knowledge of 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,” Prinzhorn said. “Our shared goal is to further strengthen the company’s position and thus create additional long-term value for our shareholders.”
Kelsey has more than 25 years of international experience in finance, M&A and capital markets. He spent over five years as CFO at Constantia Flexibles, a leading flexible packaging provider, where he oversaw numerous international transactions and transformation projects. Before that, he was Head of M&A at the same company, leading its acquisition activities. He also managed cross-border M&A projects in Central and Eastern Europe at Raiffeisen Investment and worked as an equity analyst at Cazenove in London. His term on the Semperit Executive Board runs until October 31, 2029.
The leadership change matters because Semperit is navigating a strategic realignment focused on profitability and lean structures. Prinzhorn credited Sorger with driving that transformation, noting his emphasis on cost discipline and value creation has strengthened the group’s competitiveness. “The boost in profitability in the current 2026 financial year reflects this course,” Prinzhorn said. “Semperit is clearly positioned in strategic terms and very well equipped for the next phase of growth.”
Semperit, founded in 1824 and headquartered in Vienna, employs around 4,000 people worldwide and operates 15 production sites across Europe, Asia, Australia and America. In the 2025 financial year, the group generated revenue of EUR 662.4 million and EBITDA of EUR 79.5 million. Its two divisions—Semperit Industrial Applications and Semperit Engineered Applications—serve industrial customers in more than 100 countries. More information about the company is available at www.semperitgroup.com.
Kelsey’s appointment fills a critical role as Semperit looks to build on its recent profitability gains. With his transaction and capital markets background, he is expected to support the company’s growth ambitions and its ongoing transformation. The original release can be viewed on www.newmediawire.com.
