Krefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, July 2026 — Siempelkamp GmbH & Co. KG has appointed Marianne Gras as Chief People Officer (CPO), effective July 1, 2026. She also joins the Management Board of the Siempelkamp Group, succeeding Stefan Ziemes, who stepped down from the Board on June 30 after more than 25 years of service and will continue to support the company in an advisory capacity.
“It is with great pleasure and respect that I take on the role of Chief People Officer at Siempelkamp. At a time when the world of work, technologies and societal expectations are changing rapidly, the people & culture function is taking on even greater strategic importance. My aim is to position HR as a global value driver – as a partner to the business, a driver of transformation and the guardian of a strong corporate culture. I look forward to shaping this journey with clarity and courage, together with the Management Board, the HR team and all our colleagues worldwide,” said Marianne Gras.
Siempelkamp CEO Martin Scherrer: “The Management Board of the Siempelkamp Group warmly welcomes Marianne Gras. Her role is based on three guiding principles of our HR strategy: a global focus with a local approach, actively shaping the workplaceof tomorrow, and empowering employees to realize their potential.”
Marianne Gras will succeed Stefan Ziemes as CPO and member of the Management Board. Ziemes will step down from the Siempelkamp Group’s Management Board on 30th June, but will continue to serve the company in an advisory capacity. “For over 25 years, Stefan Ziemes has contributed his expertise to our Group with great dedication and success. We would like to thank him most sincerely for his many years of responsible and trusting collaboration. In every role he held during his time at Siempelkamp, he has made a valuable contribution. For this, he deserves our recognition and our best wishes for his future,” said Martin Scherrer.
In her new role, Marianne will lead the Siempelkamp Group’s global human resources strategy, shaping the structures, processes, culture, and capabilities that support the company’s profitable growth, innovation, and long-term sustainability. As a member of the Management Board, she will play a strategic role in advancing Siempelkamp’s people agenda with a focus on global alignment, future-ready workplaces, and employee development.
Marianne has been part of the Siempelkamp Group since 2023, joining as Team Lead HR Development and Recruiting. In 2026, she was elevated to Deputy Chief People Officer, reflecting her growing leadership responsibilities within the organization. During her tenure, she has been instrumental in strengthening leadership development, talent management, and recruitment initiatives, laying the foundation for the company’s evolving global HR strategy.
Prior to joining Siempelkamp, Marianne served as Health Manager and Personnel Development Specialist at the Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf, where she focused on employee development and organizational health. Earlier in her career, she worked as a Consultant with Kölner Institut für Managementberatung GmbH & Co. KG, advising organizations on organizational development and psychological assessment, and spent nearly seven years with GeBeGe Gesellschaft für Beratungs- und Gesundheitsmanagement, building expertise in health management, organizational development, and people-focused consulting.
Marianne holds a Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from FOM University of Applied Sciences for Economics and Management, providing a strong academic foundation for her strategic approach to leadership, organizational transformation, and talent development.
About Siempelkamp Group
The Siempelkamp Group is a globally active technology company specializing in machine and plant engineering, casting technology, and nuclear technology. The company is a leading supplier of press lines and complete production systems for the wood-based panel, metal forming, composite, and rubber industries.
Headquartered in Krefeld, Germany, Siempelkamp also operates one of the world’s largest hand-molding foundries, manufacturing castings weighing up to 320 tonnes, while providing transport and storage solutions for radioactive waste and supporting the dismantling of nuclear facilities. Through continuous innovation and engineering excellence, the company serves customers worldwide across a broad range of industrial sectors.
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