Messer expands its Executive Board

Privately owned industrial gases firm Messer has appointed two new board members to represent its Americas region and its China/ASEAN business. The expansion comes after the announcement of Bernd Eulitz as CEO, Helmut Kaschenz as CFO and Virginia Esly as COO Europe.

Heading up the Americas region on the Executive Board as COO Americas is Elena Skvortsova, who most recently served on the Executive Board of OMV AG in Vienna after holding senior positions at Baxter International, Linde AG – where she stood as President Middle East & Eastern Europe – before taking over responsibility for Praxair’s Canadian business until 2020.

Commenting on Skvortsova’s appointment, Bernd Eulitz, CEO of Messer, said, “Her laser focus on customers, talent development and operation rigour are exactly what Messer needs as the company enters the next chapter of its 125-year corporate history as a global force.”

25-year Messer veteran Dr. Werner Hickel has taken over the position of COO Asia and will continue to be responsible for the business in China and the ASEAN countries. Since joining the company in 1998, Hickel has served as Financial Director Messer China, COO and CEO of Messer China and CEO Messer China/ASEAN.

Asia will find itself in the crosshairs next month as Messer Management SE’s own Chairman of the Supervisory Board and former CEO Stefan Messer targets Asia and its potential for the industrial gases industry at gasworld’s Asia-Pacific (APAC) Industrial Gases Conference 2023 taking place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia between 5th-7th December.

Named as a keynote speaker for the event, Stefan Messer will also provide attendees with an opportunity to learn more about the new ownership structure of the company after its full takeover of Messer Industries alongside global institutional investor GIC.

Speaking during the announcement of its acquisition, Eulitz said, “As a gases group in Asia, Europe and the Americas, we will be even stronger and drive forward our ambitious plans with GIC as our new partner.”