Group Management

Michael Pieper, President/CEO

Born 1946, Swiss, with Franke since 1989
Michael Pieper has owned and has run Franke since 1989. Prior to joining Franke, Michael Pieper worked several years in the US in different positions in banking. He holds a Master degree in Business Administration from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland (lic.oec.HSG). Michael Pieper is a board member of several Swiss public companies including Forbo, Adval Tech, Feintool, Hero and Berenberg Bank AG.

Jürg Fischer, Chief Financial Officer

Born 1959, Swiss, with Franke since 2005
Prior to joining Franke Jürg Fischer held several executive positions including Chief Financial Officer at Habasit AG, Commercial Director at RAG-Reichenberger AG, Group Controller at Siber Hegner and internal Auditor and Team Leader at Sandoz AG. Jürg Fischer holds a Master degree in Business Administration from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland (lic.oec.HSG).

Dr. Andreas Hauswirth, Head of Corporate Services

Born 1954, Swiss, with Franke since 1987
Dr. Andreas Hauswirth joined Franke as Assistant to Group Management. In 1994 he became member of Group Management with responsibility for Corporate Services (Corporate Secretary, Corporate Legal, Corporate Communications, Corporate Human Resources, Corporate Insurances and Risk Management), and responsibilities for Other Activities companies and Franke Immobilien AG. Prior to joining Franke Dr. Andreas Hauswirth worked as a legal advisor for OBT Treuhand AG. Dr. Andreas Hauswirth earned a law degree and doctorate from the University Berne, Switzerland (Dr.iur).

Peter Kaufmann, Chief Information Officer

Born 1957, Swiss, with Franke since 2007
Peter Kaufmann joined Franke as CIO of Franke Group. Prior to joining Franke, he held various international management positions in software development, business re-engineering and IT management for Swatch Group, Roche Diagnostics and Habasit AG. Peter Kaufmann graduated as Master of Science ETH (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland) and he holds two post-graduation Degrees, one in Business Management and one in Electronic Business Management.

Michael Soormann, Industrial Participations

Born 1958, German, with Franke since 2007

Dr. Michael Soormann joined Franke as Director Artemis International AG. He has an international background and got wide experience in Internal Auditing and Finance as he worked as Head of Finance and Administration at MBT Bautechnik GmbH and MBT (Switzerland) AG and also as General Manager of MBT (Switzerland) AG as well as BASF Construction Chemicals (Switzerland) AG. Dr. Michael Soormann holds a PhD in economical science from the University in Kiel, Germany. As of January 1, 2010, Dr. Michael Soormann is Member of Franke Artemis Group Management.

Torsten Türling, President/CEO

Born 1967, German, with Franke since 2009
Torsten Türling joined Franke as President Franke Kitchen Systems. He gained his wide and international experience as Vice President and General Manager Food Retail Division EMEA at Linde AG and at United Technologies Corporation / Carrier Corporation. Torsten Türling holds a degree in Economics from Saarland University, Germany, earned an MSc in Management from the Grande Ecole Lyon, France, and attended the six-month Global Leadership Program at INSEAD.

Hans J. Ott, President/CEO

Born 1948, Swiss/USA, with Franke since 1979
Hans J. Ott joined Franke as Assistant to the CEO, followed by special assignment in the US for Franke. 1981 he became General Manager of the Franke US Foodservice activities. Prior to joining Franke he worked in France, Italy, and Switzerland. Hans J. Ott holds a Master Degree in Engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland (dipl.Ing.ETH).