After more than 18 years with the company, Dr. Rolf Breidenbach is bidding farewell as CEO of HELLA at the end of the month. On this occasion, he addresses a personal thank-you to all employees worldwide.

Wednesday 2022-06-29

Dear Colleagues,

Every beginning has its end and every journey also has its destination. So now the time has come for me to say goodbye to you personally. Since the beginning of February, HELLA and Faurecia have been operating under the new, joint FORVIA umbrella as two strong companies that complement each other in the best possible way in terms of technologies, customers and markets. The ground is thus prepared for a successful future. Against this background, as you know, I already reached a mutual agreement with the HELLA Shareholders Committee a few months ago to resign from my position as Chairman of the HELLA Management Board as of June 30, 2022 and to leave the company.

This step is difficult and easy for me at the same time. Difficult, because I was allowed to work for HELLA for almost two decades and therefore have very close ties to the company and especially its employees. Together, we have overcome numerous hurdles, mastered challenges and achieved successes during this time. Leaving all these moments, encounters and contacts behind is extremely difficult for me. At the same time, however, it is easy for me to say goodbye because I know that there are so many committed and highly motivated colleagues behind the company. You are the key factor that HELLA will continue to develop successfully. HELLA is also technologically strong, healthy and active in all relevant markets at the forefront. This makes us a leading supplier today in key future fields such as automated driving, electromobility and digital light. HELLA is thus ideally equipped for the future and, with Faurecia at its side, even more strongly positioned.

Being able to share responsibility for the fortunes of a large, international and above all successful automotive supplier for over 18 years is not something that can be taken for granted - and certainly not the achievement of a single person. Therefore, I look back on this time with a lot of humility and gratitude. My special thanks go to the company's shareholders and committees, the entire management team, our customers, suppliers and business partners, and above all to you, the more than 36,000 HELLA colleagues worldwide. Without your support and trust, this would not have been possible.

I would therefore be delighted if you would continue to show such commitment to HELLA. Having said that, I would like to thank you once again most sincerely and wish you and my successor, Michel Favre, who will take over the CEO role at HELLA in July, all the best and every success.

Kind regards,
Yours Rolf Breidenbach