Date: 14 January 2015
Maximilian Sollfrank for his long-standing function as executive chairman.
Mr. Sollfrank retires at his own request from the board of directors he had been a member of since 2001. As the head of the company he had successfully managed the fortunes of HORN since the new business foundation in 1999.
Sollfrank had previously worked for the family business of Mr. Helmut Horn for a long time. In 1966 he started his training as an architectural draughtsman with HORN. Later in his career his function as a project manager took him to many countries all over the world. In 1990 he transferred to the sales department; five years later he became the head of the department on November 1, 1995. After a stage of reorganization and the sale of the family business to Certina Holding AG Mr. Sollfrank was appointed to the position of CEO of the new company HORN Glasanlagen GmbH on December 1, 1999. Two years later he became the chairman of the parent company HORN Glass Industries AG.
“The time I spent with HORN was interesting and exciting for me” said Sollfrank during the farewell party. During the 15 years of his managing function he tackled many tasks and implemented them successfully. Dr. Hans Wehrmann, Executive Chairman of Certina Holding AG, praised the outstanding reorganization of the former family business to become a group member company as well as the strong internationalization over the last 15 years. New fields of business and new markets had to be identified and developed. The former family business had mainly been active in the field of furnace construction for the production of container glass. Due to the ever-increasing building boom worldwide and the growing automobile market the demand for float glass grew enormously. Sollfrank unerringly introduced the company into the business field of float glass and thus developed a second economic basis of HORN Glass Industries AG.
Sollfrank also furthered the orientation of the company towards eastern Europe, the former CIS states and the Middle East. So the company now generates a major part of turnover from business in these areas. Moreover the executive chairman was increasingly active in Asia and used his long-standing and extensive experience for developing the markets according to the motto: “Fast reaction and absolute service”.
Mr Sollfrank did not take all credits for the success of HORN Glass Industries AG for himself. During the farewell party he thanked the staff. “A ship and his captain will not sail as long as the crew is not aboard. So all this could only lead to success because of the trust you had in me and in the company. Although things were not always easy, the positive impressions prevail and I will remember them forever” said Sollfrank.
The company management will now be put in the hands of other experienced board members. It will remain with the CEOs Mr. Christoph Jatzwauk and Mr. Stephan Meindl, Mr. Meindl being the chairman. “I wish the new managing board and HORN Glass Industries AG with all its affiliated companies the very best and continued success.“ said Sollfrank.
Some tasks are already waiting for the new management team. Mr. Stephan Meindl has set himself the target to now consolidate the float glass division after the introductory and growth stage. The position of the brand name “HORN” has to be strengthened and the brand has to be spread in the float glass industry all over the world. “HORN as supplier of entire production plants for the float glass industry is not known to all manufacturers yet” says Meindl. Moreover he sees good chances for business expansion in the field of container glass production. Here HORN has the chance to consolidate and expand its market share.
Mr. Meindl may expect further support from Mr. Sollfrank, since Sollfrank will keep in touch with the company. In future he will manage the Asian subsidiaries in China and Singapore and advise HORN Glass Industries AG with regard to strategic and operative decisions.
Add new comment