The Materna Group, a leading IT services company, has announced a significant change in its management structure with effect from 1 February. Michael Hagedorn (56), who is already a member of the Executive Board and the Executive Management Board, will take over the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) from Martin Wibbe. After four successful years as Chairman of the Board, Martin Wibbe is stepping down from the Board at his own request to pursue new professional challenges.
Michael Hagedorn brings with him six years’ experience at Materna and has been a member of the Board of Management since April 2022. Prior to this, he served, amongst other roles, as Managing Director of the Europe-wide IT division of a German company that implemented IT projects for major commercial enterprises and public authorities.
Dr Winfried Materna, Chairman of the Supervisory Board and company founder, has spoken positively about the transition to Michael Hagedorn and the new Executive Board line-up: “I wish Michael Hagedorn and the Executive Board members all the best. The team works well together and possesses a high level of experience and expertise. We have very dedicated and motivated staff at Materna, for whom quality is the top priority. I am convinced that we are making excellent progress and will successfully achieve our goals.”
A key contribution to the Group’s commercial success
Martin Wibbe took over as Chairman of the Executive Board at Materna in April 2020 and, together with the Executive Board, launched the ambitious ‘Mission 2025’ strategy, with the aim of achieving a turnover of 700 million euros with 5,000 employees by 2025. This target is expected to be met as early as this year, and thus ahead of schedule. As part of Mission 2025, for example, significant improvements have been achieved in brand positioning, local presence at the various sites and the systematic acquisition of companies (M&A). As a logical next step, the Executive Board recently launched the new GRIP² strategy, under which the company aims to reach the next stage of growth by 2027.
“Together, we have been able to achieve a great deal for Materna, and the targets we set are being met faster than planned. All our colleagues can be very proud of what we have achieved. I would like to thank every single employee for their consistently constructive and excellent cooperation, and at the same time I am looking forward to this new personal challenge. My special thanks go to the shareholder families for the trust they have placed in me,” said Martin Wibbe.
Dr Winfried Materna, Chairman of the Supervisory Board and founder of Materna, commented on Martin Wibbe’s decision: “On behalf of all members of the Supervisory Board, I would like to thank Martin Wibbe most sincerely for his work as CEO over the past four years, which have been very successful financially. We respect Martin Wibbe’s decision and wish him every success in his future, both personally and professionally.”
New Executive Board focuses on innovation, new markets and group synergies
The changes in corporate leadership are accompanied by a realignment of the Executive Board’s responsibilities. The designated Chief Executive, Michael Hagedorn, who will take up the post on 1 February, outlines a clear vision. “We have successfully shaped our digital transformation and are now entering a new phase. Our aim is to make the most of promising market opportunities through continuous innovation – particularly in the context of artificial intelligence – the development of new markets and the effective utilisation of synergies within the Materna Group. In doing so, we can rely on a well-coordinated Executive Board team and a dedicated workforce,” said Michael Hagedorn.
Areas of responsibility on the Executive Board are being expanded
Michael Hagedorn remains responsible for the Public Sector portfolio on the Executive Board and will additionally take on Corporate Development, Marketing & Communications, Employer Branding and Corporate Social Responsibility. The subsidiaries Materna TMT and Materna IPS are being transferred from Martin Wibbe’s Industries portfolio to Michael Hagedorn’s area of responsibility.
Uwe Scariot remains Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board and is responsible for the Cross Market Services portfolio. He assumes overall responsibility for Materna SE’s Industries units, the subsidiary cbs and its subsidiaries, as well as leoquantum.
Dr René Rüdinger remains Chief Financial Officer and is responsible for Enabling Functions. These include Finance, Controlling & Tax, Legal, Risk & Compliance, Locations & Facility Management, Information Governance & Quality Management, Corporate IT, Enterprise Services and M&A. In addition, René Rüdinger will in future assume responsibility for the HR organisation.
