Change in the Dillinger and Saarstahl Board of Management: Markus Lauer hands over his duties – Jonathan Weber named new CFO

The timing for the change was chosen deliberately: Markus Lauer (56), who has worked for the SHS Group for over 25 years, played an instrumental role in awarding the main plants and in successfully arranging financing of the ambitious Power4Steel transformation project. With the conclusion of this decisive phase, he decided that the time was right to hand over responsibility to others who can support the transformation process long term, and therefore decided not to extend his mandate at his own request. Markus Lauer will step down from his position on 31 December 2025.

Jonathan Weber has been a member of the management of SHS and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Dillinger and Saarstahl since April 2021. In this position, he has already played a key role in promoting the strategic, operational and financial development of the companies. The 45-year-old previously was Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Thyssenkrupp Electrical Steel Group, and he has extensive experience in areas such as performance management, digitalization and mergers & acquisitions.  

As a result of the new appointments, the size of the Management Board will also be further geared toward efficiency and reduced from the current six to five members. The Board of Management of Saarstahl and Dillinger now consists of Stefan Rauber (Chief Executive Officer), Joerg Disteldorf (Chief Human Resources Officer), Daniël Nicolaas Van der Hout (Chief Sales Officer), Dr. Peter Maagh (Chief Technology and Production Officer) and Jonathan Weber (Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer). All members of the Board of Management are also members of the management of SHS - Stahl-Holding-Saar. 

“We regret Markus Lauer’s decision, but of course we respect it. At the same time, we would like to expressly thank him for his decades of outstanding work for our companies and his major contribution to the development and successful financing of the transformation project. We wish him all the best and good luck for his personal and professional future,” said Heiko Maas, Chairman of the Supervisory Boards of SHS, Dillinger and Saarstahl. “With the appointment of Jonathan Weber as a proven financial expert, the continued development of the transformation process is secured and the Board of Management team remains in a strong position to shape the future of Saarland’s steel industry in the challenging years to come.”