Duravit Brand Press What's new 2012 New management board chairman at Duravit AG

Franz Kook (65), Management Board Chairman of Duravit AG of many years’ standing, retired on 31 December 2011 and has handed over the reins to his successor, Prof. Frank Richter (48).

For 41 years, Franz Kook has worked tirelessly for the company with great success and has taken it to its current strong market position. He has played a key role for Duravit, particularly in the field of design and innovation development, as well as in the internationalisation process. After training as a wholesaler, he joined Duravit in 1970 as administrator for internal and external sales processes. He became Head of Marketing and Sales in 1976. In 1987, he became Deputy Managing Director and was appointed to the management board one year later. In 1991, he became Chairman of the Management Board. In addition to his professional career, Franz Kook has been involved in numerous organisations and associations and was, amongst other things, Deputy President of the IHK Südlicher Oberrhein (Chamber of Industry and Commerce Southern Upper Rhine Area) and President of the Bundesverband Keramische Industrie (Association of the German Ceramic Industry).

His successor, Prof. Frank Richter, moved into his office at the company headquarters in Hornberg on 1 September 2011 in order to prepare in depth for his new task. Prof. Richter was previously Managing Director at Goldmann Sachs and spent several years at McKinsey & Company management consultants and at the universities of Witten/Herdecke and Ulm. Prof. Richter is the author of several textbooks and member of various supervisory and advisory boards of industrial and service companies. The father of three was born in Schoetmar in the district of Lippe.

“Duravit AG stands for many characteristics that Franz Kook has always exemplified: love of detail, team spirit, entrepreneurial vision, diligence and perseverance. Without you, Mr. Kook, Duravit would not be the company that it is today”, said Gregor Greinert, Chairman of the Executive Board of Duravit AG, at the celebration to bid farewell to Franz Kook on Saturday, 17 December 2011 in Offenburg. “Frank Richter is a high-calibre successor who will continue Duravit's very successful development."

As one of the most dynamic groups of companies operating in the sanitary industry, Duravit AG develops and manufactures sanitary ceramics, bathroom furniture, shower trays and bathtubs, whirl and wellness systems, shower-toilets, kitchen sinks and accessories for the international market. Overall, the company that was founded in 1817 now operates with 30 affiliated companies and is present in more than 100 countries. Duravit now has more than 5,800 employees worldwide.

Portrait Prof. Dr. Frank Richter