Generational change in Lapp Group

Lapp Group is heading for the future.

On July 1, 2017, Ursula Ida Lapp, founder of Lapp Group, leaves the post of Chairman of the Supervisory Board of U.I. Lapp GmbH, which she headed after a long career as an entrepreneur. Instead, she becomes the Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board, so she will continue to support the company in the future.

Starting from July 1, 2017, her son Andreas Lapp will replace her as Chairman of the Supervisory Board at U.I. Lapp and at the same time he leaves the post of CEO of such regions as South America, Europe, Middle East and Africa (LA EMEA), as well as the post of CEO of U.I. Lapp.

These positions were taken over by his nephew Mathias Lapp. Talking about these changes in the company, Andreas Lapp noted: "I am glad that this step guarantees the transfer of long-term responsibilities in our family company, and I sincerely congratulate the appointment of Mathias Lapp as the new CEO, as a person with extensive leadership experience that has been accumulated abroad and within our company."

The company's employees and the Supervisory Board express their gratitude and respect to Ursula Ida Lapp for her enormous contribution and outstanding business talent. Ursula Ida Lapp founded the company in 1959. Together with her husband, Oskar Lapp (1921-1987), they contributed to the development of the German economy and helped the company become better and better every year. Oskar Lapp invented a revolutionary connecting technology when he invented ÖLFLEX®, the first commercially produced signal cable in history. Today, Lapp Group is a leading provider of integrated solutions and branded products in the connecting solutions segment.

Ursula Ida Lapp will continue to take an active part in the life of the company: She becomes Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board of U.I. Lapp and Lapp Holding AG. She and her sons will also continue to monitor the activities of the Oscar Lapp Charitable Foundation. This foundation was founded in 1992 in memory of her husband, Oscar Lappa, who died of a heart attack. The purpose of the foundation is to encourage young professionals to participate in research on the cardiovascular system. The Oskar Lapp Research Award, which amounts to 12,000 Euros, is awarded annually. And a grant from the Oscar Lapp Foundation, which amounts to 20,000 Euros with the intended purpose of purchasing equipment, is provided every two years. Social responsibility has always played an important role for Ursula Ida. The family also helps employees combine work and personal life by supporting the Kind e.V. charity project. The new building for the Bercheninsel kindergarten in Stuttgart-Durrlewang, the town hall in Stuttgart-Meringeni and the construction of the pavilion for the Pestalozzi school in Stuttgart-Weignegeni are also projects that became possible only thanks to the financial support of the Lapp family.

In his position as Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Andreas Lapp heads the U.I. Lapp Monitoring Committee. After Oscar Lapp's death in 1987, Andreas Lapp worked with his mother Ursula Ida Lapp and brother Siegberg Lapp to strengthen the company's international reputation. Having a bright talent as an entrepreneur and an understanding of international markets, very soon he confidently provided U.I. Lapp GmbH with access to new markets outside Germany. Andreas Lapp will remain CEO of Lapp Holding AG.

Establishing ties and cultural exchange between Germany and India is the next important task for Andreas Lapp. Starting in 2001, he became Honorary Consul of the Republic of India in Banden-Werthemburg and Rhineland-Palatinate. Every year he organizes the Stuttgart meets Mumbai wine festival in the Indian metropolis. In Stuttgart, he also fully supports the Indian Film Festival, which takes place at the Indian Business Center, the purpose of which is to help Indian companies gain a foothold in Germany.

Matthias Lapp succeeds Andreas Lapp as CEO of the LA EMEA regions (Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Africa). His new responsibilities will include reporting to the Supervisory Board of Lapp Holding AG, as well as continuing to expand and strengthen the network of partners in the regions entrusted to him and searching for new market opportunities.

Matthias Lapp joined Lapp Holding AG in 2010 and has made an invaluable contribution to relaunching corporate values for the entire company. He became an export manager in the LA EMEA regions in 2013, and then, in October 2016, took the position of Deputy General Director of U.I. Lapp. His participation in the management of the company brought many useful results to Lapp Group, including the first active steps of the company in Panama and the formation of a trading company there. Matthias Lapp comments on his appointment: "The LA EMEA region has developed very rapidly in recent years and I feel that there is even more potential for development here. And I look forward to realizing this potential with you as soon as possible. I also want to thank everyone for Lapp's trust."