Koenig & Bauer AG celebrated a milestone 100th Annual General Meeting at the Vogel Convention Center in Würzburg, bringing together shareholders under the theme "ChanGe and ChanCe." With around 70% of the company’s share capital represented, the meeting underscored strong shareholder engagement and marked a pivotal moment for the company’s future. The spotlight was on a generational shift in leadership, as Dr. Stephen Kimmich officially succeeded Dr. Andreas Pleßke as CEO. Dr. Pleßke, who will remain with the company in a special advisory capacity until the end of 2025, was praised for his strategic guidance and the seamless transition of leadership. The Supervisory Board also welcomed Dr. Alexander Blum as the incoming CFO, effective July 2025, reinforcing a broader transformation agenda focused on continuity and competitiveness.

During the meeting, both outgoing and incoming leaders emphasized Koenig & Bauer’s resilience and evolution in a volatile global market. Dr. Pleßke reflected on the company’s strong response to geopolitical and economic challenges, driven by initiatives like the “Spotlight” focus programme and the “Exceeding Print” strategy. He highlighted the company’s transition to a more agile, market-facing structure and its recent breakthrough in battery cell coating systems developed with Volkswagen’s PowerCo SE. Dr. Kimmich outlined a “performance phase” for the company, built on five strategic pillars including go-to-market excellence, enhanced competitiveness, AI adoption, and a firm customer-first approach. 

 Shareholders approved all resolutions, including the election of Karoline Kalb to the Supervisory Board, succeeding Professor Dr.-Ing. Gisela Lanza, who will depart in June 2025. Kalb's appointment was one of several governance decisions endorsed by a large majority, including the approval of remuneration reports, auditor appointments, and the authorization to hold virtual general meetings. The smooth passage of these items demonstrated continued confidence in the company's leadership and strategic direction. 

Innovation took center stage as the meeting opened with an AI-generated avatar of Dr. Pleßke delivering a digital address—symbolic of Koenig & Bauer’s commitment to artificial intelligence as a transformational force. In a showroom exhibit, attendees explored connected packaging solutions from Koenig & Bauer Kyana GmbH, showcasing interactive consumer experiences powered by dynamic content generation without physical packaging changes. These AI-driven applications exemplify the company’s vision for a digital, connected, and sustainable print future, supported by partnerships with technology leaders like Google and Siemens.