Henkel announced that Carsten Knobel formally assumes his responsibilities as Executive Vice President Finance and Purchasing effective July 1, 2012. Carsten Knobel succeeds Lothar Steinebach who retires after more than 30 years with the company. The CFO transition was first announced at the end of 2011.
Carsten Knobel (43) started his career at Henkel in 1995 as management assistant to the Executive Vice President Research and Development. From 1998 he held several managerial positions in Controlling and Marketing at Henkel’s Cosmetics/ Toiletries business sector. Among other responsibilities, he managed the post merger integration in the US after the acquisition of The Dial Corporation. From 2006, Knobel was responsible for Henkel’s Group Strategy and Corporate Controlling in the Finance sector. In 2009, he additionally assumed the position of Financial Director of the Cosmetics/Toiletries business.
“I am delighted that we have found in Carsten Knobel a successor from our own ranks. This is testament to our successful people development,” says Kasper Rorsted, Chief Executive Officer of Henkel. “Carsten Knobel is a highly qualified and experienced expert who has a deep understanding of our company.”