Sika Group Management reorganizing in line with market needs

August 22, 2006
Last year’s revision of Sika’s Strategy 2010 has now also led to modifications at the Group Management level. In keeping with the aim to devote more attention to growth markets, the Mid-East, India and East Africa are to be consolidated into a new corporate region. The Construction Division, accounting for 75% of Group sales, is to be organized into three business units each concentrating on a defined grouping of customers: concrete manufacturers, contractors and distributors.

Sika’s Strategy 2010 calls for deeper penetration of existing markets. The company strives for added growth based on a stronger focus on specific customer groups. In this process Sika will strengthen its regional organizations and Key Account Management.
Geographically Sika divides its markets into six regions: Europe North, Europe South, Asia/Pacific, North America, Latin America, plus the newest region consisting of the Mid-East, India and East Africa.

Four business units -- Concrete, Contractors, Distribution, Industry -- are to serve markets globally as well as at the local level along the entire length of the supply chain in support of the regional organization.

The regions are now to be headed by
Europe North: Silvio Ponti (as hitherto), Deputy CEO1
Europe South: Jose Luis Vazquez (as hitherto)1
Asia/Pacific: Jan Jenisch (hitherto Head Industry Division)1
North America: Paul Schuler (hitherto General Manager Germany)1
The business units are to be led by
Contractors: Alexander Bleibler (hitherto Head Construction Division)1
Concrete: Ernesto Schümperli (hitherto General Manager Switzerland)1
Distribution: Christoph Ganz (hitherto Head Distribution)1
Industry: Bruno Fritsche (hitherto Head Appliance and Equipment,
Building Components)1
1members of Group Management
Responsibilities at the company’s other central divisions remain unchanged
Corporate Operations: Peter Krebser1
Research & Development: Urs Mäder1
Finance: Markus Zenhäusern1
Mid-East, India and East
Africa: to be defined
Latin America: Fernando Rudolph (as hitherto)
Special Unit Roofing: Axel Ritzberger
Corporate Legal: Stefan Mösli
Corporate Human Resources: Peter Ziswiler
1members of Group Management
Regrettably the current head of the Asia/Pacific Region, Marcel Smit, will be leaving the Sika Group and accept another professional challenge. By building the company’s position in the Asia/Pacific Region to the current level he contributed significantly to Sika’s development. In line with the reorganization, Sika and the head of the North American Region, Bill Loven, have mutually agreed to separate.

The Board of Directors is convinced that under the leadership of Ernst Bärtschi the new administrative set-up will result in better focused and more effective service to customers and the marketplace.
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Sika AG – a corporate profile
Sika AG, located in Baar, Switzerland, is a globally integrated company supplying the specialty chemicals markets. It is a leader in processing materials used in sealing, bonding, damping, reinforcing and protecting load-bearing structures in construction (buildings and infrastructure construction) and in industry (vehicle, building component and equipment production).
Sika’s product lines feature high-quality concrete admixtures, specialty mortars, sealants and adhesives, damping and reinforcing materials, structural strengthening systems, industrial flooring and membranes.
Subsidiaries in 70 countries worldwide and 10,000 employees link customers directly to Sika and guarantee the success of all of its business relationships. With this business structure Sika generates annual sales of approximately CHF 2.9 billion. Visit our website at www.sika.com.

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Alfred Spieser

Corporate Communications & Investor Relations

Sika AG

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