Beiersdorf names new chief executive officer

Beiersdorf has announced that Stefan Heidenreich is to succeed Thomas Quaas as chief executive officer (CEO) at the start of next year.

Mr Heidenreich is the current CEO of the Hero Group, a position he will leave on December 31st 2011 to allow him to take up the leadership of Beiersdorf the following day.

He takes over the role from Mr Quaas, who is stepping down following a successful 33-year career with the health and personal care firm, six of which have been in the CEO role.

The company's board of directors expressed confidence that the new CEO's brand and management experience will allow him to continue to support Beiersdorf's growth initiatives in the coming years.

Mr Heidenreich said: "Beiersdorf is an internationally leading skin care company with exceptionally well-established global brands, remarkable innovative competencies and great growth potential."

According to the firm's first-half financial report for 2011, organic business growth has been recorded in the year to date, thanks in large part to the success of the Nivea brand as it celebrates its 100th anniversary.