#Nonwovens

2026-07-10

Katharina Obergruber appointed to the Management Board of Sandler AG

Effective September 1, 2026, Katharina Obergruber will be appointed to the Management Board of Sandler AG. (Image source: Sandler AG / Fotostudio Schwarzenbach) © 2026

The Supervisory Board of Sandler AG has appointed Katharina Obergruber to the company’s Management Board. Effective September 1, 2026, the Board will consist of Philipp Ebbinghaus (CEO), Dr. Ulrich Hornfeck (currently CCO, future COO), and Katharina Obergruber (CCO). Katharina Obergruber, currently Chief Sales Officer Hygiene and member of the Management Team of Sandler AG, will assume responsibility for all sales activities as Chief Commercial Officer. She will assume this role from Dr. Ulrich Hornfeck, who will focus primarily on production and supply chain topics.

Born in Rehau (GERMANY) in 1989, Obergruber studied business administration and later added a technical engineering degree. She joined Sandler AG in 2019 as Sales Manager Transportation Products. In early 2022, she became Senior Manager Sustainability, reporting directly to the Executive Board. Sustainability has always been a personal passion for her. With strong initiative and fresh ideas, she played a key role in shaping Sandler AG’s sustainability strategy. In October 2023, she moved into Sales and became Head of Sales Hygiene/Wipes, one of Sandler AG’s largest market segments. It includes nonwovens that are required for the production of hygiene products such as baby diapers, feminine hygiene items, incontinence products, as well as wet wipes and cleaning wipes.

Katharina Obergruber stands for customer focus and strategic clarity

“With Katharina Obergruber, we are gaining a Board member who combines customer proximity with strategic clarity – two qualities we need in times of constant change. At the same time, we benefit from Ulrich Hornfeck’s long-standing experience and his deep knowledge of materials and technologies. Both are crucial for successfully leading our production into the future,” says CEO Philipp Ebbinghaus. Dr. Ulrich Hornfeck also sees clear strategic value in the appointment: “I look forward to working with Katharina Obergruber in this new constellation. She has done outstanding work in our sales team over the past years. The overall commercial responsibility will be in excellent hands with her. With her expertise and ideas, she will set important new impulses in her new role.”

Contributing to a sustainable and diverse corporate culture

Obergruber is excited about her appointment to the Management Board and aims to strengthen a sustainable and diverse corporate culture: “As Chief Commercial Officer, I want to work closely with my Board colleagues Philipp Ebbinghaus and Ulrich Hornfeck to drive the transformation toward a clearly customer-focused organization and to better integrate Sales, Materials Management, and Logistics. Providing direction, listening, supporting people, and developing solutions together. Because it is not principles but personalities that move organizations forward.”

Sandler turns financial stability into a catalyst for shaping the future

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