SONTHEIM AN DER BRENZ. After nearly nine formative years at the helm of Röhm GmbH, Gerhard Glanz is stepping down from the management board as planned. At the end of April 2026, the long‑standing CEO and Spokesman of the Management Board will withdraw from day‑to‑day operations at the clamping and gripping technology specialist at his own request, in order to focus on his advisory activities going forward.
Effective March 1, 2026, Gerhard Glanz has already handed over operational responsibility to his successors: Martin Kaufmann and Jochen Grundmann, who now form the new dual leadership of the corporate group. That Gerhard Glanz continues to make a decisive contribution to a smooth management transition during the brief handover period until his departure at the end of April reflects the character of a leader who shaped Röhm with exceptional dedication and lasting impact for nearly a decade.
From the very beginning of his tenure in 2017, conditions were anything but easy. In the years prior, the group had repeatedly faced crises. It was only after the acquisition by the Austrian Dr. Helmut Rothenberger Holding GmbH in September 2017 – and with Gerhard Glanz appointed as Managing Director – that the company returned to profitability. During his leadership, Gerhard Glanz guided the company not only through pronounced economic cycles, but also through challenging periods such as the dieselgate crisis in the automotive industry, the COVID‑19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, rising energy costs and inflation, and most recently geopolitical tensions and increasing competitive pressure from Asia – always with a clear focus on cohesion, teamwork, and shared responsibility.
It is also for this reason that DDW (Die Deutsche Wirtschaft) recognized Gerhard Glanz as one of Germany’s leading business executives, listing him in its rankings of the country’s most important companies.
Despite all the successes and his steady navigation through turbulent times, employees were always Gerhard Glanz’s top priority. This was evident when Röhm, unlike many other companies, chose short‑time work instead of layoffs. “Protecting jobs is the most important thing,” was the Managing Director’s guiding principle.
Gerhard Glanz leaves behind a well‑positioned company, giving the new dual leadership – Jochen Grundmann and Martin Kaufmann – every confidence that Röhm continues to offer significant potential even in challenging times. While the two intend to set important impulses for the future, strengthen what has proven successful, and further advance both the strategic and operational development of the company, Gerhard Glanz bids farewell to the management of Röhm GmbH – knowing that through commitment and foresight he has played a decisive role in shaping the group’s path over the past years.