KRONEN GmbH has welcomed a new member to its Management Board. On August 1, 2026, Wissam Badr, Head of Finance, was appointed authorized signatory and officially became a member of the Management Board. With this development, the family-run company has expanded its management structure to support and promote further corporate development.

This expansion follows the completion of the generational change in KRONEN’s Management Board that was reported back in July. Following Rudolf Hans Zillgith’s retirement from KRONEN’s operational business, responsibility for the management of the company now lies with its Managing Directors: Stephan Zillgith (Spokesman of the Management Board), Eric Lefebvre (Technical Director), and Johannes Günther (Sales Director). Since August 1, Wissam Badr has been a new member of the Management Board as an authorized signatory and Head of Finance.

The Management Board is expanded to cover financial affairs

By appointing Wissam Badr to the Management Board, KRONEN GmbH has directly incorporated the company’s financial affairs into its management structure. As Head of Finance, Badr will now contribute his expertise in his role as a member of the Management Board.

Wissam Badr (38) began his career at KRONEN GmbH in 2011 as a Junior Controller. After completing his German “Diplom” degree in Business Administration at SRH University in Heidelberg, he continued his professional development within the company over the following years. In each of his new roles, he took on more responsibility until ultimately being promoted to his current position as Head of Finance. Wissam Badr has additionally been an authorized signatory and member of the Management Board since August 1, 2026. In this new role, he is now also contributing his longstanding experience at KRONEN and his comprehensive knowledge of the company to its continued corporate development.

”With Wissam Badr, we have now expanded our Management Board to include a long-standing colleague from within the company who will strengthen the field of financial affairs within our management structure. We look forward to working with him even more closely and to joining forces to advance the further development of KRONEN GmbH,” stated Stephan Zillgith, Spokesman of the Management Board.

Developing KRONEN’s management structure

The expansion of the Management Board follows on from the generational change at KRONEN GmbH that was prepared over several years. From 2018, responsibility within the company’s management structure was gradually reassigned. Alongside the members of the Zillgith family, Eric Lefebvre and Johannes Günther were also appointed as Managing Directors and will continue to hold this position. In July 2026, Rudolf Hans Zillgith stepped down from KRONEN’s operational business after more than a quarter of a century as a key corporate figure. He has, however, maintained his connection with KRONEN as a shareholder of the company Zillgith Beteiligungs GmbH.

Alongside the Managing Directors Stephan Zillgith, Eric Lefebvre, and Johannes Günther, Wissam Badr has now strengthened and expanded the Management Board as the automatized signatory responsible for financial affairs within the management structure.

About KRONEN GmbH

KRONEN is a family-managed globally operating producer and supplier of stand-alone machines, special-purpose machines, and high-tech processing facilities for the fresh-cut industry. The product portfolio of KRONEN and its partners covers fruit, vegetable, and salad leaf processing: from preparing, cutting, washing, drying, dewatering, peeling, and sterilizing right through to packaging. KRONEN additionally offers machines for the processing of meat and fish, special vegan products, baked goods, and pet food.
The company, which is based in Kehl am Rhein, Germany, and has a second production site in the nearby city of Achern, currently employs more than 130 members of staff, has representatives in over 80 countries worldwide, and supplies its products to more than 120 nations all over the globe.
With more than 45 years of experience in food technology, KRONEN prides itself on its quality awareness and constantly strives to achieve the best possible solutions in its day-to-day work. The machine manufacturer focuses on taking a sustainable, holistic approach toward the hygienic, reliable, and resource-friendly production of fresh foods. KRONEN considers itself to be a think tank that provides innovative solutions to benefit its customers and meet all their needs. It guarantees top-quality advice and planning expertise in close cooperation with the industry and research establishments.

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Do you require more or other material? We are happy to help! Feel free to contact us here: presse@kronen.eu, T +49 (0)7854 9646-160 / -161