Heading in a new direction

Management Board change at EnviTec Biogas

Lohne, June 18, 2010 – Biogas sector pioneer Kunibert Ruhe – Management Board member of EnviTec Biogas AG – will no longer be available to the company in his current function from July 1, 2010. Kunibert Ruhe commented as follows: "I have the feeling that EnviTec is outstandingly positioned in its central areas. It is a good time to return to my previous career – I will be leaving the command bridge of the ship, and returning to agriculture. I am looking forward to switching from an office-based working life to agricultural tasks, for instance, plant refinement in bioenergy, and to the fresh smells of farmland." Kunibert Ruhe founded today's EnviTec Biogas AG in 2002 together with Olaf von Lehmden. A small boat with a crew of 18 staff members has today turned into a fine, sea-worthy ship that is underway in international waters, and employs more than 400 members of staff.

EnviTec Biogas AG was the first company from the Oldenburger Münsterland to venture the brave step onto the challenging stock market floor. This represented an important milestone for the company. Kunibert Ruhe is primarily responsible for the sales and research & development areas within the company. His philosophy of turning "customers into fans" encountered great success. Frequent contacts, a common language, and a rootedness to native soil fed through into customer enthusiasm for EnviTec plants. An independent study produced by the College of Hildesheim as part of a customer survey arrived at the conclusion that 86 percent of existing customers would invest in a further EnviTec plant in the future. This is an outstanding outcome compared to the company's competitors (72 percent average).

In 2007, the Oldenburger Münsterland Association awarded Kunibert Ruhe its well-known "Entrepreneur of the Year" prize for his outstanding corporate achievements.

Kunibert Ruhe commented as follows on his decision: "It was one of the most difficult decisions that I have ever taken. In this case, I paid greater attention to my gut instincts, and less to my head, and was finally convinced that this is the right way ahead. A philosopher once said that intuition is highly accelerated intelligence, and I have had very good experience with gut decisions to date."

Kunibert Ruhe is not abandoning the ship altogether, however, but will continue to be available to EnviTec Biogas as a consultant. Olaf von Lehmden, CEO, made the following comments: "We greatly regret that Kunibert Ruhe is stepping down from the company's Management Board. His consultancy activity will allow us to continue to benefit from his expertise in the biogas area, as well as from his function as a shareholder". His future responsibilities will comprise the following areas: research & development, cooperation ventures with universities, as well as representing the company's interests at the Biogas Council in Berlin.

Continuity within the company is an important factor. For this reason, preparations have already been made for the succession. Jürgen Tenbrink has been appointed the new CTO, and will take over the areas of processing, and research and development. Further responsibilities have been distributed among the Management Board. The sales area will transfer to Olaf von Lehmden's Management Board department. In future, marketing and lobbying will belong to the area of responsibility of Jörg Fischer.
In concluding, Kunibert Ruhe summed up his position as follows: "EnviTec Biogas is and remains close to my heart. I will gladly remain available to the company in an advisory and supporting function."

About EnviTec Biogas AG
EnviTec Biogas AG covers the entire biogas production value chain – including the planning and turnkey construction of biogas plants as well as their commissioning. The company based in Lower Saxony, Germany, provides the biological and technical services, and also offers the entire range of plant and operating management. In Güstrow, in the German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, EnviTec Biogas built the world’s largest plant for the production of biogas to natural gas standards with a thermal output of 55 megawatts. In addition, the company also operates its own biogas plants. Today, the company is represented in more than 15 countries throughout Europe, as well as in India. EnviTec Biogas generated revenues of EUR 120 million and EBIT of EUR -0.5 million in 2009. The EnviTec Group currently has 385 employees. EnviTec Biogas has been listed on the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since July 2007.

Investor Relations:
Olaf Brandes
EnviTec Biogas AG
Tel: +49 44 42 80 65-118
E-Mail: ir@envitec-biogas.de

Press contact:
Britta Cirkel, Christina Siebels
HOSCHKE & CONSORTEN Public Relations GmbH
Tel: +49 40 36 90 50- 56 /-58
E-Mail: b.cirkel@hoschke.de; c.siebels@hoschke.de

Download

back

Skip navigation