Machinery manufacturer reshapes leadership to strengthen dealer relationships
German agricultural machinery manufacturer Lemken is restructuring its management team, creating a dedicated sales director role and moving to a three-person management board as it sharpens its focus on international markets and dealer relationships.
Robert von Keudell will join the company as Chief Sales Officer (CSO) on 1 November 2026, taking responsibility for sales, after-sales, product management and marketing.
The appointment brings together commercial responsibilities that are central to the manufacturer’s relationships with distributors and dealers, including product support and market development.
Von Keudell has extensive experience in agricultural machinery distribution. At Claas, he worked on developing and professionalising sales and dealer networks in domestic and international markets. He subsequently held senior positions at Kubota, most recently as Vice President Tractor Sales & Marketing Germany, and chaired the VDMA Tractor Division. Before joining Lemken, he was Vice President Sales & Service for the German market at Linde Material Handling, part of the Kion Group.
The new structure will see Lemken managed jointly by three directors, each with defined responsibilities. Klaus Kuhl will continue to oversee finance, human resources, IT, compliance, legal affairs and environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters.
Dr Thomas Lange-Stalinski will lead research and development, production, supply chain and quality management, while also becoming spokesperson for the management board.
Anthony van der Ley will leave the management board on 30 November 2026, after 14 years with the company, but will remain available in an advisory capacity. The chief executive officer position will not be replaced.
Lemken said the changes were intended to clarify responsibilities and strengthen its connection with international markets and customers, against a backdrop of changing market conditions and increasing demands for technology, advice and service.
Nicola Lemken, shareholder and chair of the advisory board, said the new structure would reinforce customer relationships and give the company clearer responsibility for its markets. She also credited van der Ley with playing a significant role in the company’s international development.
For the dealer network, the appointment places sales, after-sales support, product management and marketing under a single management responsibility. The company said it wanted to develop closer working relationships with sales partners to support customer value and profitable growth.
The restructuring follows an earlier reorganisation of the management board, with the appointments of Kuhl as Chief Financial Officer and Lange-Stalinski as Chief Technical Officer.
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