BARBIER EXITS MONDI GROUP CEO POSITION
MUNICH — Hans-Peter Barbier, chief executive officer of the Mondi Group, has left the Munich-based apparel company.
His duties have been transferred to Rolf Soehnen, a member of the Mondi advisory board.
Two members of Mondi’s board of directors — Thomas Andruskevich, who is the firm’s chief financial officer, and Fidelius von Rehbinder, chief operation officer/sales and distribution — will retain their existing responsibilities.
The Mondi Group is solely owned by Investcorp, which purchased the 50 percent interest it did not own from Mondi founder Herwig Zahm in September 1993. At that time, Barbier took over the reins of the Munich coordinates house, instituting a number of merchandising and marketing shifts, which industry observers say contributed to a double-digit downturn in the group’s sales.
Consolidated 1995 sales for the group were estimated at about 250 million marks — or about $174 million — compared to 450 million marks in 1992, according to a report in the German press. Company executives were not available for comment.
The 54-year-old Soehnen became a member of the Mondi advisory board last October.
He has been on advisory boards in various branches of industry, and served as an adviser to Investcorp for several years. He is expected to act as the coordinating link between Mondi management in Munich and the London and Bahrain-based investment company.