Jürg Oleas is to step down in February after 14 years as CEO of GEA. He will be replaced by Stefan Klebert, who was most recently CEO for eight years at German industrial group Schuler AG. Klebert (53) joins GEA’s executive board next month, taking over from Oleas on February 18.

Oleas, a Swiss national, born in Ecuador, has been a member of GEA’s executive board since 2001, and was appointed CEO in 2004. He will now leave the company after completion of the fiscal year. Stefan Klebert started his career at Festo AG & Co, where he initially worked as a sales management assistant in 1991.

He subsequently held various positions in marketing and sales before joining escalator and lift company Schindler in 1999. Between 2002 and 2003, he assumed responsibility as chairman of Haushahn-Gruppe as well as MD of Schindler Deutschland Holding GmbH. He went on to be chairman of ThyssenKrupp Industries service Holding GmbH and a member of the executive board of ThyssenKrupp Services AG.

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