Can Yildirim becomes CTO and part of the management team alongside Gerhard Sturm
SEVERIN, the internationally renowned German quality brand for electrical household appliances with a 130-year tradition, is on a very good path: as a German family business, it combines an increasing degree of product innovation with the highest standards of German quality, sustainability and customer service. In order to further accelerate the structural alignment of the company’s organisation, processes and systems towards global growth and operational excellence, Mr Can Yildirim will be appointed as CTO and member of the Executive Board from 1 September 2024. Mr Yildirim has more than 20 years of experience in the areas of purchasing, supply chain and operations and most recently held the position of CTO and Managing Director at Kludi. He also acquired his international expertise at renowned companies such as Grohe AG and Otto Fuchs, where he developed in a successful way purchasing and SCM organisations in an international context.
As of 1 September 2024, Can Yildirim will be appointed CTO and member of the executive board of the international quality brand for household appliances SEVERIN, based in Sundern, Germany. The tasks of the Management are divided as follows:
- As CTO, Can Yildirim is responsible for global purchasing, engineering, quality, supply chain and logistics, as well as IT, with the aim to further accelerate the structural alignment of the company’s organisation, processes and systems towards global growth and operational excellence.
- As CEO, Gerhard Sturm will continue to be responsible for sales, marketing, product development, finance and human resources, with a mandate to further strengthen the SEVERIN brand and product portfolio and expand the company’s international presence. Mr Sturm continues to be the Spokesman of the Executive Board.
The appointment of Can Yildirim as CTO marks a further milestone in the development of SEVERIN, representing the next logical step in further strengthening SEVERIN as an internationally recognised consumer brand.
Can Yildirim counts with more than 20 years of experience in global strategic sourcing and supply chain management. In his last position, he was the Chief Technology Officer / Managing Director for the company KLUDI. With experience in global sourcing, global production/operations footprint, private equity, restructuring, transformation and growth, Mr Yildirim has developed and implemented best-in-class strategies to reduce costs, increase efficiency, improve margins and minimise business risks. Mr Yildirim holds a “Master of Arts in Management and Business Administration” degree and has worked for renowned companies such as Grohe and Otto Fuchs.
He is characterised by his committed personality and deep understanding of digitalisation, customer satisfaction and process-oriented work. His outstanding achievements include the following:
- The establishment and management of sourcing and purchasing offices in China and the APAC region
- The transformation and restructuring of various supply chain, purchasing and operations organisations
- Due diligence and site selection for industrial production facilities
- The realisation of investments in China, the United States and the EU
- The development of sales strategies in emerging markets
With his extensive experience and outstanding skills, Can Yildirim will play a decisive role in the further international expansion and strengthening of the brand.
On the appointment of Can Yildirim as CTO, Gerhard Sturm says, “I am very much looking forward to further developing SEVERIN together with Can. Our clear goal: further strengthen the brand and grow profitably internationally.”
Yildirim adds: “SEVERIN is a true traditional German brand with more than 130 years of history and great potential. I look forward to contributing my experience to SEVERIN.”
A representative of shareholder TRM Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH comments: “We are delighted to have gained an international procurement and supply chain professional and team player in Can Yildirim. We are convinced that he will further accelerate the successful development of SEVERIN as a leading international consumer brand.”
SEVERIN is on a very good path: As a German family business, the brand combines an increasing degree of product innovation with the highest standards of German quality, sustainability and customer service. The successful market launch of SEVERIN FILKA, the world’s first fully automatic filter coffee machine for five different cup and pot sizes, and the strong feedback from the market on the latest product launch – the first “Smokeless Raclette” with the innovative “Downdraft” technology, which allows odours and smoke to be extracted in three stages – are just two recent examples of these qualities.
SEVERIN has been setting new standards in sustainability for over 30 years: The first repairable filter coffee machine, SEVERIN CAPRICE, was launched back in 1992, and last year alone, goods worth more than 2.5 million euros were repaired. In June 2024, SEVERIN was officially nominated for the German Sustainability Award 2025. The new and award-winning SEVERIN Design, which was launched last year, will be rolled out successively from this year onwards.
Something which the company is particularly proud of: SEVERIN has been a trusted partner of consumers and specialised retail partners for more than 130 years. The next step towards an even closer cooperation with specialist retailers will be taken in 2024 with a dedicated range for this channel. The further strengthening of the brand, of the product portfolio and of the close partnerships with retail partners are key objectives for the next phase of growth.
SEVERIN is a leading international manufacturer of innovative, high-quality and sustainable household appliances. As a German quality brand with a 130-year history, SEVERIN stands for reliable and durable products that make customers’ everyday lives easier. With headquarters in Sundern (Germany), six of its own sales companies in Europe and a long-standing presence in Asia, SEVERIN is globally active and supplies customers all over the world.
Further information is available at www.severin.com
For questions or further Information about SEVERIN please contact:
Lara Wälter
Junior Marketing Manager
presse@severin.de
