European growth as a strategic target for the packaging manufacturer

Ebersdorf bei Coburg, 26 March 2019 +++

Jochen Drösel (49), formerly Head of Sales and Product Development at the Kolb Group, joins the Schumacher Packaging Group on 1st May 2019 as a member of the sales management team and designated Chief Sales Officer (COS). Schumacher Packaging (www.schumacher-packaging.com) is one of the largest family-run manufacturers of packaging solutions made from corrugated board and solid board. It is here that Jochen Drösel will gradually take over the tasks of Norbert Hager (67), who has been contributing to the success story of Schumacher Packaging as Sales Director for over four decades. One important strategic target for Jochen Drösel as the designated successor is to exploit international opportunities for growth.

Group manages to persuade a top manager in the sector to join

"In Jochen Drösel, we have gained a real industry heavyweight as our new designated COS," explains Björn Schumacher, the Managing Director of Schumacher Packaging, enthusiastically. "We have remained in touch with him ever since he was Head of Sales at the raw paper supplier Smurfit Kappa. We value him not only for his experience and extensive expert knowledge in the paper and packaging sector, but also on a personal level. I think Jochen Drösel will fit in perfectly with our dynamic corporate culture. He will be a worthy successor to Norbert Hager," Björn Schumacher continues. "Over the past 42 years as Sales Manager, Norbert Hager, my mother's brother, has contributed significantly to the success of our family company. Now, at 67, he has reached the age at which we must gradually let him hand over this responsibility."
 

Growth dynamics as a new challenge

"I believe it's a perfect match, the position of COS at Schumacher Packaging and my industry expertise", comments Jochen Drösel on his new role. "I have now been working in the paper and paper processing industry for over 25 years. For 14 years, I was responsible for sales "on the other side", as it were, at Schumacher Packaging's supplier Smurfit Kappa. What really appeals to me about Schumacher Packaging now is the company's impressive dynamic and the strategic and international activities being undertaken as part of further European growth. The Schumacher Packaging Group quite rightly sees itself as an innovation and productivity industry leader. This technological advantage opens up huge international potential."
 

Jochen Drösel's career in the industry

Over the course of his career, Jochen Drösel has held managerial sales positions in family-run companies such as the Kolb Group and in international groups such as Smurfit Kappa. He began his career in 1992 as a Regional Sales Manager for Bong Deutschland in Wuppertal. While working there, he completed his studies in business administration (VWA). In 1998, he joined Kappa Recycled Paper Europe in the Dutch city of Roermond as a Regional Sales Manager for the DACH countries (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and the Czech Republic. After the merger to become the Smurfit Kappa Group in 2004, he became the Managing Director of the new sales company Smurfit Kappa Paper Sales Germany in Neuss. During this time, he was directly responsible for the top key accounts, including that of Schumacher Packaging. From 2012 onwards, he worked as Sales Manager and Member of the Executive Board at Kolb Group/Hans Kolb Wellpappe in Memmingen.