Bystronic has nominated Daniel Bischofberger and Fabrice Billard as new members of its Board of Directors, with both executives bringing extensive international leadership experience in industrial technology and transformation. The nominees would succeed Dr. Matthias Auer and Urs Riedener, who are stepping down after years of service to the company. Daniel Bischofberger, currently CEO of Accelleron Industries Ltd, has held various leadership roles at ABB Asea Brown Boveri and Sulzer, with experience spanning the United States, Malaysia, and Switzerland. His background includes successfully leading acquisitions, integration projects, and a stock market listing. As a proven technology and service expert, he has expressed particular interest in Bystronic's systems and its service business.
Fabrice Billard, CEO of Burckhardt Compression, successfully led that company's transformation by accelerating growth, improving profitability, and optimizing processes. Prior to his current role, he spent twelve years in leadership positions at Sulzer, gaining extensive international experience across various industries and markets while working in Switzerland, Singapore, and the Netherlands. With Daniel Bischofberger and Fabrice Billard, we gain two strong leaders whose experience in the global industrial environment perfectly match our needs, said Dr. Heinz O. Baumgartner, Chairman of the Board of Directors. We look forward to their ideas and input. We also want to express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Auer and Mr. Riedener for their many years of service and their extremely valuable contributions during that time.
The election will take place at Bystronic's 2025 Annual General Meeting in April 2026, with the date and location to be announced soon. Additional information about the current Board members and those nominated for election is available on Bystronic's website. The nominations come as Bystronic continues to position itself as an international leader in sheet metal processing technology and innovation, offering advanced laser cutting systems, press brakes, and intelligent automation solutions supported by global services. The company's focus on digital transformation through Bystronic Software aligns with the incoming board members' backgrounds in technology and industrial transformation.
With headquarters in Switzerland and additional development and production facilities in Germany, Spain, Italy, China, and the United States, Bystronic serves customers in more than thirty countries through its own subsidiaries and a network of dealers and agents. The board changes reflect the company's ongoing strategic evolution in a competitive global industrial technology market. This leadership transition matters because it signals Bystronic's commitment to strengthening its governance with executives who have proven track records in international expansion, technological innovation, and corporate transformation. The appointments position the company to better navigate the complexities of global industrial markets while advancing its digital and service-oriented strategies. The incoming board members' experience with acquisitions, integration projects, and market listings suggests Bystronic may be preparing for strategic growth initiatives or organizational changes. Their international backgrounds align with Bystronic's global footprint across thirty countries, potentially enhancing the company's ability to compete in diverse regional markets. The timing of these nominations ahead of the 2025 Annual General Meeting allows for a structured leadership transition as the company continues to evolve its sheet metal processing technology offerings.
