As of January 1, 2020, Carsten Knobel ‏(50) is the company’s new CEO. He succeeds Hans Van Bylen, who is leaving the company after around 35 years with the company. Also effective January 1, Marco Swoboda ‏(48) succeeds Carsten Knobel as Henkel's new Chief Financial Officer ‏(CFO).

Effective January 1, 2020, Marco Swoboda ‏(48), Corporate Senior Vice President Finance, will become new Chief Financial Officer of Henkel. He will succeed Carsten Knobel ‏(50) who will take over the position as CEO effective January 1, 2020.

2019 overall in line with market expectations and guidance

• Adhesive Technologies delivers robust performance
• Beauty Care below prior year
• Laundry & Home Care achieves good business development
• Group sales rise by 0.8% to 5,077 million euros, organic: -0.3%
• EBIT margin* at 16.7% ‏(-1.7 pp)
• Earnings per preferred share* reach 1.43 euros, nominal -9.5%, at constant exchange rates -10.8%
• Increased investments in brands and digitalization
• Very strong free cash flow: 823 million euros ‏(+339 million euros)

• Strengthens professional hair care portfolio with category-leader in fast-growing curly hair segment
• Adds complementary product range with strong innovation capabilities
• Access to attractive distribution model

Henkel has announced that the current CEO Hans Van Bylen, for personal reasons, will not be available for a further term after about 35 years with the company, including about 15 years on the Management Board and 4 years as its CEO. He will therefore hand over the position as CEO to his successor Carsten Knobel effective January 1, 2020. Carsten Knobel joined Henkel in 1995 and has been on the Management Board since 2012, responsible for Finance, Purchasing and Integrated Business Solutions. His succession as Chief Financial Officer is still to be decided.

Henkel successfully placed two bonds worth a total of the equivalent of 850 million euros on the capital market. One bond with a volume of the equivalent of 450 million euros and a maturity of three years and another bond with a volume of the equivalent of 400 million euros and a maturity of seven years were placed. The proceeds are used to repay parts of the Group's current commercial paper liabilities.

Henkel has appointed Michael Nilles as Chief Digital & Information Officer ‏(CDIO). He will join Henkel on October 1, 2019 and will be responsible for the combined activities in Integrated Business Solutions ‏(IBS) and digital technologies. Dr. Rahmyn Kress, currently Chief Digital Officer, will focus on the continued growth and expansion of the Henkel X platform. He will take over the global venture activities of Henkel as Head of Henkel X Ventures.

• Adhesive Technologies delivers robust performance
• Beauty Care below expectations
• Laundry & Home Care achieves good business development
• Sales of 5,121 million euros, almost at prior-year level, organic: -0.4%
• EBIT margin* at 16.5% ‏(-1.5 pp), earnings per preferred share ‏(EPS)* at 1.43 euros ‏(-9.5%)
• First successes from announced growth initiatives
• Investments in growth and digitalization
• Strong balance sheet with good cash management

• Further strengthening Henkel’s leading hair coloration business
• Offering unique capabilities in personalization with individualized products
• Capturing consumer insights and trends to advance retail product portfolio