VIENNA, AUSTRIA - In a significant leadership transition, wienerberger, a leading international provider of innovative and ecological building envelope and infrastructure solutions, announced that Heimo Scheuch is stepping down as CEO with immediate effect due to personal health reasons. After more than 17 years at the helm, Scheuch requested the Supervisory Board to accept the early termination of his mandate, a decision that was respected and accepted. The Supervisory Board has appointed Gerhard Hanke, currently Chief Operating Officer Central & East and Deputy Chairman of the Managing Board, as Interim CEO. wienerberger has initiated a structured search for a permanent successor.
Gerhard Hanke, who brings over 25 years of experience within wienerberger, assumes the interim CEO role with a deep understanding of the company's operations. He previously served as CFO from 2021 to 2025, has been COO Central & East since March 2025, and has held the position of Deputy Chairman of the Managing Board since June 2026. The responsibilities of Dagmar Steinert (CFO) and Harald Schwarzmayr (COO West) remain unchanged, ensuring stability in key leadership roles during this transition.
Heimo Scheuch's tenure as CEO since 2009 has been transformative for wienerberger. Under his leadership, the company evolved from a traditional brick manufacturer into a leading international provider of innovative and ecological building material and infrastructure solutions across Europe and North America. His strategic vision expanded the company's geographic footprint and established a strong presence in water and energy infrastructure, complementing its core building envelope business. This transformation has positioned wienerberger as a global player with more than 20,000 employees and a clear sustainability agenda.
Peter Steiner, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, expressed profound gratitude on behalf of the board: "When he took the helm in 2009, wienerberger was a brick manufacturer. Today, it is a leading international group with more than 20,000 employees, a resilient business model spanning the entire building envelope and infrastructure, and a clear sustainability agenda. This successful transformation is his achievement. We deeply respect his decision to prioritize his health, and we wish him a full and swift recovery." Steiner also expressed confidence in Hanke, stating, "Gerhard Hanke is an experienced, deeply trusted leader who knows every dimension of wienerberger. With him, we are well positioned to ensure continuity and pursue our goals while we conduct a thorough search for the right successor."
Scheuch, in his statement, reflected on his long association with the company: "wienerberger has been my home for thirty years – from my first days as an assistant to leading this group as CEO. I would like to thank our customers, business partners and shareholders as well as the Supervisory Board, my fellow Managing Board members, and the global wienerberger team for their trust and commitment over the past years. We have achieved a great deal together, and I am proud of every step. I had looked forward to continuing as CEO as planned, but the time has come to focus on my health. I am leaving the company in the best possible hands and have no doubt that wienerberger will continue its success story."
This leadership change comes at a critical time for the construction and building materials industry, which faces increasing demands for sustainability and innovation. wienerberger's focus on ecological solutions for the building envelope and infrastructure in water and energy management places it at the forefront of these trends. The company's resilience and strategic direction under its new interim leadership will be closely watched by industry observers and investors.
wienerberger is scheduled to present its results for the second quarter and first half of 2026 on August 12, 2026, as planned. The company's performance and strategic initiatives will be key indicators of its continued stability during this transition. For more information about wienerberger and its operations, visit NewMediaWire.
