wienerberger, a leading international provider of innovative and ecological building material and infrastructure solutions, announced today that Heimo Scheuch is stepping down as CEO with immediate effect for personal health reasons. After more than 17 years at the helm, Scheuch requested the Supervisory Board to accept the early termination of his mandate. The Supervisory Board has accepted his decision and appointed Gerhard Hanke, Chief Operating Officer Central & East and Deputy Chairman of the Managing Board, as Interim CEO. The company is now conducting a structured search for a permanent successor.
Gerhard Hanke brings more than 25 years of experience at wienerberger to his new role. He served as CFO from 2021 to 2025, has been COO Central & East since March 2025, and has served as Deputy Chairman of the Managing Board since June 2026. The responsibilities of Dagmar Steinert (CFO) and Harald Schwarzmayr (COO West) remain unchanged.
Heimo Scheuch has served as CEO of wienerberger since 2009, leading the company through a fundamental strategic transformation from a traditional brick manufacturer into a leading international provider of innovative and ecological building material and infrastructure solutions across Europe and North America. Under his leadership, wienerberger significantly expanded its geographic footprint and built a strong position in water and energy infrastructure alongside its core building envelope business.
Peter Steiner, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, expressed profound gratitude on behalf of the entire Supervisory Board: "When he took the helm in 2009, wienerberger was a brick manufacturer. Today, it is a leading international group with more than 20,000 employees, a resilient business model spanning the entire building envelope and infrastructure, and a clear sustainability agenda. This successful transformation is his achievement. We deeply respect his decision to prioritize his health, and we wish him a full and swift recovery. Gerhard Hanke is an experienced, deeply trusted leader who knows every dimension of wienerberger. With him, we are well positioned to ensure continuity and pursue our goals while we conduct a thorough search for the right successor."
Scheuch commented, "wienerberger has been my home for thirty years – from my first days as an assistant to leading this group as CEO. I would like to thank our customers, business partners and shareholders as well as the Supervisory Board, my fellow Managing Board members, and the global wienerberger team for their trust and commitment over the past years. We have achieved a great deal together, and I am proud of every step. I had looked forward to continuing as CEO as planned, but the time has come to focus on my health. I am leaving the company in the best possible hands and have no doubt that wienerberger will continue its success story."
This leadership change comes at a critical time for the construction and infrastructure industry, which is increasingly focusing on sustainability and digitalization. wienerberger's strategic shift under Scheuch positioned the company as a key player in providing solutions for energy-efficient and climate-friendly living. The interim CEO, Gerhard Hanke, is expected to maintain this trajectory, given his deep knowledge of the company's operations and financials. The announcement may reassure investors and stakeholders of stability during the transition period, as wienerberger is set to present its results for the second quarter and first half of 2026 on 12 August 2026.
wienerberger is a leading international provider of innovative, ecological solutions for the entire building envelope, in new build and renovation, as well as infrastructure in water and energy management. With more than 20,000 employees worldwide, wienerberger's solutions enable energy-efficient, healthy, climate-friendly, and affordable living. The company is the world's largest producer of bricks and the market leader in clay roof tiles in Europe, as well as concrete pavers in Eastern Europe. In pipe systems (ceramic and plastic pipes), it is one of the leading suppliers in Europe and a leading supplier of facade products in North America. With more than 200 production sites, wienerberger generated revenues of EUR 4.6 billion and an operating EBITDA of approximately EUR 754 million in 2025.
