Norika Completes the Generation Change

Norika GmbH, a potato breeder from Groß Lüsewitz on Germany's Baltic coast, is preparing for a generational change. Wolfgang Walter, Managing Director, is retiring after a long and successful career.

After leading the company for more than 33 years, Walter will relinquish control at the end of 2024 and provide his experience as an advisor to the incoming management group and the Supervisory Board.

Tigran Richter, who has spent the last 30 years effectively expanding the Norika Group's global operations, will continue to serve as Managing Director and be in charge of exports and overseas subsidiaries. In addition, he will go on with his duties as President of Europatat, a position he has had since 2022.

Theodor Baron von Hahn, Daniel Westermann, and Fabian Strauß will assume their newly assigned responsibilities in corporate management on July 1, 2024.

Fabian Strauß is a trained farmer who studied agricultural sciences in Kiel. After working as a farm manager on the island of Rügen and at the Günther Graf v. d. Schulenburg-Wolfsburg estate, Strauß joined Norika in Mecklenburg as General Agricultural Manager in 2020. Strauß is responsible for the Agriculture, Real Estate, Renewable Energies, and Purchasing divisions.

Theodor Baron von Hahn studied agricultural science in Göttingen after completing his agricultural training in France. He took his first steps in the seed business at the breeder Strube, where he was last responsible for the sugar beet sales.

With his international background and his experience from complex phases of change, von Hahn will take over the areas of breeding, research, and finance as well as coordinating the management board.

Daniel Westermann, who grew up on a farm, studied agricultural sciences in Göttingen. After graduating, Mr Westermann was responsible for international seed production and various management positions in sales at Deutsche Saatveredelung AG (DSV). In 2020, Westermann moved to Deutsche Industriebau, where he gained entrepreneurial experience. With his broad sales experience, Westermann will be responsible for the business areas of seed production, product management, marketing, and sales.

With the new management team, the Norika shareholders are setting the course for the continuation of successful breeding work, a secure supply of quality seed potatoes for agriculture, and sustainable growth for the Norika Group.