Rudolf Hans Zillgith retires from the operational business of KRONEN GmbH
A generational change in KRONEN’s Management Board
The retirement of Rudolf Hans Zillgith from the operational business of KRONEN GmbH marks the conclusion of the generational change in the company’s Management Board that has been ongoing since 2018.
After more than a quarter of a century as a key corporate figure at KRONEN GmbH, the 83-year-old Rudolf Hans Zillgith is now retiring from the company’s operational business.
KRONEN GmbH
After more than a quarter of a century as a key corporate figure at KRONEN GmbH, Rudolf Hans Zillgith is now retiring from the company’s operational business. The well-established, long-standing Management Board will now continue to lead the company on its successful course. Responsibility for the management of the company will lie with its Managing Directors: Stephan Zillgith (Spokesman of the Management Board), Eric Lefebvre (Technical Director), and Johannes Günther (Sales Director).
This step provides continuity for KRONEN’s customers, partners, and employees: The three Managing Directors have already been members of the Management Board together with Rudolf Hans Zillgith and held responsibility for their respective divisions since 2018. Zillgith’s full retirement from the company’s operational business now represents the continued progression of the generational change that was already initiated several years ago.
Rudolf Hans Zillgith will remain with KRONEN as a shareholder of the company Zillgith Beteiligungs GmbH. The holding has a majority stake in KRONEN GmbH and holds investments in companies in the Dutch food industry that complement KRONEN’s product and solution portfolio.
“When I look back at the development of KRONEN GmbH over the past few decades, I feel extremely grateful and proud. Together with its committed team, this medium-sized company has evolved to become an internationally successful partner for the food industry,” declared Rudolf Hans Zillgith. “I would like to thank all employees, customers, partners, and supporters who have helped shape the company throughout this journey. The current members of the Management Board have been working together successfully for many years, know the company down to the finest detail, and are sure to continue its chosen path with a great deal of competence and responsibility. I would like to wish them every success.”
Expansion to become an internationally successful company
In 1998, Rudolf Hans Zillgith took over the food technology company then known as Kronen Nahrungsmitteltechnik and entered into self-employment following his long career at Hobart. In his role as an entrepreneur, he continuously developed KRONEN GmbH, for example by constructing the new company headquarters in Kehl-Goldscheuer, Germany, and introducing its consistent international orientation.
Nowadays, KRONEN GmbH, including the division WS Edelstahltechnik, which it took over in 2020, employs a total of around 130 members of staff. Since being acquired by Zillgith, the company turnover has increased from around five to 25 million euros. KRONEN products and solutions are now marketed in around 120 different countries.
Shaping the future on a strong foundation
During Rudolf Hans Zillgith’s continued active involvement in the company, it concluded a strategic marketing agreement with Urschel Laboratories, Chesterton (Indiana, USA) in 2025. The American company is the global market leader for industrial cutting machines and milling equipment in the food processing industry and distributes KRONEN solutions to expand its portfolio in the U.S., Mexico, Asia, and Italy within the scope of the partnership.
”The retirement of my father, Rudolf Hans Zillgith, from the company’s operational business concludes the generational change that we already initiated back in 2018. The members of the Management Board have been working together in this constellation on a strong foundation of trust for many years and will now continue to lead KRONEN GmbH consistently down this successful path,” confirmed Stephan Zillgith, Spokesman of the Management Board of KRONEN GmbH.
”On behalf of the entire Management Board and all employees, I would like to thank Rudolf Hans Zillgith for his extraordinary entrepreneurial commitment. His foresight, courage, and strong personal dedication have played a key role in shaping KRONEN GmbH over the past few decades and have helped it develop into an internationally successful enterprise. We will now continue to successfully shape the future of the company on this strong foundation.”
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