The decision, which was made last week, was approved at a supervisory board meeting earlier yesterday. As a result, responsibility for sales will be divided across board members of other divisions and overall sales responsibility has been handed over to chief executive Bernhard Schreier.

Rautert (pictured) leaves after nearly two decades at Heidelberg.

Following the restructure, a Heidelberg Services division will be created, led by new appointment Marcel Kiessling, who graduates from a five-year tenure as head of sales in the US. Kiessling will take over in the new year.

Schreier said: “We will expand our service portfolio and, in addition to our current range of services and Heidelberg spare parts, we will also strengthen our services in the areas of Saphira consumables, Prinect software and integration, and consultancy for print media companies.”

Stephan Plenz will head up the Heidelberg Equipment division, which incorporates the existing press and post-press divisions, as well as the CTP range and its Linoprint inkjet project.

The new board will be in place from 1 January, 2010, with chief financial officer Dirk Kaliebe continuing to lead the Heidelberg Financial Services division, which continues in its current form.

The new organisational structure will be in place as of April 2010 for the company’s financial year.

Heidelberg shares were off 5.1%, trading at €5.58 (A$9.22) on the Frankfurt exchange, at the time of writing.

Heidelberg Australia and New Zealand managing director Andy Vels Jensen told ProPrint that he had nothing to add to the announcement.

Earlier this week, the company announced it was moving its Sydney office across town in a bid to cut costs, which coincides with a decision to move its South African head office in Johannesburg.

Read the original article at www.printweek.com.

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