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28/03/2013 | 19:00 CET | Company announcement

Sonova announces changes to the Board of Directors

Staefa (Switzerland), 28.03.2013 – Sonova Holding AG, the world’s leading provider of hearing solutions, announces today that its Board of Directors makes an exception from the automatic retirement to Mr. Andy Rihs, allowing him to complete his current term of office which expires at the Annual General Shareholders’ Meeting in 2015. Furthermore, Ms. Heliane Canepa will step down from her role as Board Member after having served on the board for fourteen years.

The exception to Mr. Rihs was made based on Sonova Holding AG's organizational regulations that allow the Board of Directors to deviate for justified reasons from the principle of automatic retirement following the completion of the 70th year of age. Andy Rihs has been a member of the Board of Directors of Sonova since 1985. He has helped to build the company from a family-owned hearing-aid company to become a publicly held global leader in hearing solutions. Under his leadership, the company grew continuously and established an outstanding reputation as a provider of technological innovative  products.

 

"It is of great benefit to the company that Andy Rihs will continue serving on the Board. Andy is one of the company's founders, and with his extensive industry experience, his drive for technology and innovation, and his visionary thinking, we are very pleased that he will continue to play a pivotal role in the long term success of Sonova“, says Robert Spoerry, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sonova Holding AG.

 

Ms. Heliane Canepa's resignation will become effective at the upcoming Annual General Shareholders' Meeting on 18 June 2013. She has been a member of the Board of Directors since 1999. "We respect Heliane's personal decision to step down and I am very grateful for her long tenure on our board and her commitment to Sonova. For many years she has served the board and helped Sonova to build its leadership position. Her extensive experience in the medtech industry were of significant value for shaping the future of Sonova. I would like to thank Heliane for her excellent work and wish her well in her future endeavors", says Robert Spoerry.

 

As previously communicated in November 2012, Mr. Jinlong Wang has been nominated as a new board member for election at the next Annual General Shareholders’ Meeting on 18 June 2013. Pending approval, the Board of Directors will thereafter consist of eight members: Robert F. Spoerry, Dr. Beat Hess, Dr. Michael Jacobi, Andy Rihs, Anssi Vanjoki, Ronald van der Vis, Jinlong Wang and John J. Zei.

 

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