wienerberger, a leading international provider of innovative and ecological solutions for the building envelope and infrastructure, announced today that Heimo Scheuch is stepping down as CEO with immediate effect for personal health reasons. After more than 17 years at the helm, Scheuch requested the Supervisory Board to accept the early termination of his mandate. The Supervisory Board has accepted his decision and appointed Gerhard Hanke, Chief Operating Officer Central & East and Deputy Chairman of the Managing Board, as Interim CEO. The company is now conducting a structured search for a permanent successor.
This leadership change comes at a critical time for wienerberger, as it continues to execute its strategic transformation from a traditional brick manufacturer into a provider of comprehensive building material and infrastructure solutions. Under Scheuch's leadership since 2009, wienerberger significantly expanded its geographic footprint and built a strong position in water and energy infrastructure alongside its core building envelope business. The company now employs more than 20,000 people and generated revenues of EUR 4.6 billion and an operating EBITDA of approximately EUR 754 million in 2025.
Gerhard Hanke brings more than 25 years of experience at wienerberger to his new role. He served as CFO from 2021 to 2025, has been COO Central & East since March 2025, and has served as Deputy Chairman of the Managing Board since June 2026. The responsibilities of Dagmar Steinert (CFO) and Harald Schwarzmayr (COO West) remain unchanged. The Supervisory Board expressed confidence in Hanke's ability to ensure continuity and pursue the company's goals during the transition.
Peter Steiner, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, said: "On behalf of the entire Supervisory Board, I want to express my profound gratitude to Heimo for what he has built in 17 years as CEO. 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. 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."
Heimo Scheuch, outgoing CEO, said: "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."
The announcement underscores the importance of leadership stability in the building materials industry, especially as wienerberger navigates market challenges and its sustainability agenda. The company will present its results for the second quarter and first half of 2026 as planned on 12 August 2026, providing further insight into its financial health during this transition. Industry observers will be watching closely to see how the interim leadership maintains momentum and what qualities the Supervisory Board seeks in a permanent CEO to continue wienerberger's trajectory.
