Endress+Hauser’s Annual Media Conference 2023: Change is the Only Constant

Change was a common theme of the event, as was adjusting to it and rising to the challenge

May 11, 2023

The annual media conference 2023 change is the only constant
The Annual Media Conference 2023: Dr Klaus Endress, Matthias Altendorf and Dr Luc Schultheiss present the most important facts and figures for the financial year 2022

By Krystie Johnston

Endress+Hauser recently concluded their Annual Media Conference in Basel, Switzerland on April 4th, 2023. Like past media conferences, they reviewed the previous financial year and provided an outlook for the current financial year. But this conference was special: It was the last press conference Klaus Endress would take part in as President of the Supervisory Board. At the end of 2023, Endress will end his active role, and Matthias Altendorf will assume his position on the Board.

Change was a common theme of the event, as was adjusting to it and rising to the challenge

Klaus Endress joined the company his father founded in 1979, and for nearly 45 years contributed to growing it into a global company that spans the world. In 1995, he became the second CEO in the company’s history, and in 2014, became President of the Supervisory Board. Now, as he reaches the age limit of 75 years at the end of 2023, he will continue to have an active role as Chairman of the Family Council, but no active role in the company. 

Altendorf became the third CEO of Endress+Hauser in 2014 – and the first one not coming from the Endress shareholder family. Endress is pleased with internal succession arrangements and to have Altendorf accept the position of CEO. He says, “The shareholders believe he is the person best suited to preside over the supervisory board. He has known the company for 35 years and has led the group with prudence and success for nearly a decade now. Mr. Altendorf embodies the Endress+Hauser culture in an exemplary fashion. I am therefore very pleased that he is prepared to take on this new challenge.”

Change Is the Only Constant: Endress+Hauser’s Annual Media Event 2023

When asked how he will lead the company as President of the Supervisory Board, Altendorf explains, “As I’m not a shareholder or family member, I will lead with good governance principles, a warm heart, a cool head, and active hands. I will provide all my experience and knowledge to help the next generation of managers and family members to guide Endress+Hauser into a good and sustainable future.”

Matthias Altendorf, CEO Endress+Hauser

Endress+Hauser family will remain closely connected to the company

The only constant in life is change, and Endress+Hauser has prepared these succession arrangements for some time. Mr. Altendorf will be succeeded as senior of the group by Dr. Peter Selders, who has been with the company since 2019. And when Endress leaves the Supervisory Board at the end of the year, the family will still be represented by two members: In addition to Sandra Gagne, who joined the board in 2022, Steven Endress will take a seat in 2024. Steven has worked for Endress+ Hauser in the United Kingdom since 2012, and as managing director since 2016. He will hand over these responsibilities in May 2023.

This means that two non-members of the family will be at the top of Endress+Hauser in the future, and for the foreseeable future, no member of the Endress+Hauser family will be in the operational side of the business either. However, the Endress+Hauser family will remain closely connected to the company. As Klaus Endress explained, one of the keys in this respect is the family charter.

Change Is the Only Constant: Endress+Hauser’s Annual Media Event 2023

“Back in 2006, while my father was still alive, we adopted a family charter. This charter sets out common rules for getting along with each other in the family and for our relationship with the company. And it established institutions that strengthen cohesion and introduce the younger generation to the company. We [the family] continue to be closely tied to the company. We have done a lot to ensure that it remains that way also in the next generations.”

Dr. Klaus Endress, President of the Supervisory Board Endress+Hauser

Endress+Hauser is a family-owned company, and as such, their management style is unique. For them, it is more valuable to think about the sustainability of the company and having something to pass down to the next generation than it is about dividends. Despite the last few years of major contradictions on a global scale, such as the pandemic, the war on Ukraine, and supply chain issues, Endress+Hauser has achieved new records in incoming sales, profit, and headcount.

2023 Another Remarkable Year for Endress+Hauser

This year, Endress+Hauser is celebrating its 70th anniversary. From modest beginnings to a world-leading provider of process and laboratory measurement technology, Endress+Hauser has learned to thrive over long periods of time. The key is adjusting to changing environments. But, no matter what the business strategy, only the people behind the company can drive change and rise to the challenge. For Endress+Hauser, it is the people who make a difference in their company, and it is the people who uphold its values and culture.

Endress elaborates, “There is no one in sight in the family who would be on the way to the top of the company. But there are family members in the younger generation who are very enthusiastic about Endress+Hauser. We would like to win them over as the family’s ambassadors, taking part in events, being approachable to our employees and, so to speak, carry the torch forward. And maybe one day, one of these family members will even take on an operational role again!”

Endress concludes, “In one hundred years’ time, we will not run out of work – well-paid work – as long as we focus on the market, and customers, and continue to improve.” For Endress, it is a never-ending story.

More Information

Endress+Hauser

Related Articles


Changing Scene


Sponsored Content
The Easy Way to the Industrial IoT

The way to the Industrial IoT does not have to be complicated. Whether access to valuable data is required or new, data-driven services are to be generated, Weidmuller enables its customers to go from data to value the easy way. Weidmuller’s comprehensive and cutting-edge IIoT portfolio applies to greenfield and brownfield applications. Weidmuller offers components and solutions from data acquisition, data pre-processing, data communication and data analysis.

Visit Weidmuller’s Industrial IoT Portfolio.


ADVANCED Motion Controls Takes Servo Drives to New Heights (and Depths) with FlexPro Extended Environment Product Line

Advanced Motion Controls is proud to announce the addition of six new CANopen servo drives with Extended Environment capabilities to their FlexPro line. These new drives join AMC’s existing EtherCAT Extended Environment FlexPro drives, making the FlexPro line the go-to solution for motion control applications in harsh environments.

Many motion control applications take place in conditions that are less than ideal, such as extreme temperatures, high and low pressures, shocks and vibrations, and contamination. Electronics, including servo drives, can malfunction or sustain permanent damage in these conditions.

Read More


Service Wire Co. Announces New Titles for Key Executives

Bruce Kesler and Mark Gatewood have been given new titles and responsibilities for Service Wire Co.

Bruce Kesler has assumed the role of Senior Director – Business Development. Bruce will be responsible for Service Wire’s largest strategic accounts and our growing Strategic Accounts Team.

Mark Gatewood has been promoted to the role of Vice President – Sales & Marketing. In this role, Gatewood will lead the efforts of Service Wire Company’s entire sales and marketing organization in all market verticals.

Read More


Tri-Mach Announces the Purchase of an Additional 45,000 sq ft. Facility

Tri-Mach Elmira Facility

Recently, Tri-Mach Inc. was thrilled to announce the addition of a new 45,000 sq ft. facility. Located at 285 Union St., Elmira, ON, this facility expands Tri-Mach’s capabilities, allowing them to better serve the growing needs of their customers.

Positioning for growth, this additional facility will allow Tri-Mach to continue taking on large-scale projects, enhance product performance testing, and provide equipment storage for their customers. The building will also be the new home to their Skilled Trades Centre of Excellence.

Read More


JMP Parent Company, CONVERGIX Acquires AGR Automation, Expanding Global Reach

Convergix Automation Solutions has completed the acquisition of AGR Automation (“AGR”), a UK-based provider of custom, high-performance automation design and systems integration primarily to the life sciences industry.

Following Convergix’s acquisitions of JMP Solutions in August 2021 and Classic Design in February 2022, AGR marks the third investment in Crestview’s strategy to build Convergix into a diversified automation solutions provider targeting the global $500+ billion market, with a particular focus on the $70 billion global systems integration and connectivity segments. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Read More


Latest Articles

  • Automated Test Equipment (ATE) Revival: Repurposing and Extending the Life of Aging ATE Systems

    Automated Test Equipment (ATE) Revival: Repurposing and Extending the Life of Aging ATE Systems

    Automated Test Equipment (ATE) and Automated Test Systems (ATS) serve the critical purpose of ensuring that electronic devices operate according to specifications in the field. As such, these systems are widely utilized for testing automotive electronics, batteries, telecom infrastructure, renewable energy systems, and consumer electronics. The aerospace and defense sectors also make substantial investments in… Read More…

  • Partner Country Canada at HANNOVER MESSE 2025: The Future’s Here

    Partner Country Canada at HANNOVER MESSE 2025: The Future’s Here

    Canada is Partner Country of HANNOVER MESSE 2025, underscoring the strong economic and political ties between “The True North” and Germany. Canada announced its Partner Country commitment in August 2022 when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hosted German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Canada. Canada’s starring role from 31 March to 4 April 2025 at HANNOVER… Read More…