German potato breeder Norika completes leadership generation change

The potato breeder NORIKA GmbH from Groß Lüsewitz on the Baltic coast in Germany is preparing a generational change. An eventful and prosperous professional life is coming to an end for the retiring Managing Director Wolfgang Walter. 

After more than 33 years at the helm of the company, Mr Walter will hand over the reins at the end of 2024 and will then support the new management team and the Supervisory Board with his experience in an advisory capacity. 

Mr Tigran Richter, who has successfully built up the NORIKA Group's international business over the past 30 years, will remain Managing Director with responsibility for exports and foreign subsidiaries. 

He will also continue his work as President of Europatat, which he has held since 2022. From 1 July 2024, Fabian Strauß, Theodor Baron von Hahn and Daniel Westermann will take over their newly structured areas of responsibility in the company management:

Fabian Strauß is a trained farmer who studied agricultural sciences in Kiel. After working as a farm manager on the island of Rügen and at the Günther Graf v. d. Schulenburg-Wolfsburg estate, Mr Strauß joined NORIKA in Mecklenburg as General Agricultural Manager in 2020. 

Mr Strauß is responsible for the Agriculture, Real Estate, Renewable Energies and Purchasing divisions. Theodor Baron von Hahn studied agricultural science in Göttingen after completing his agricultural training in France. 

He took his first steps in the seed business at the breeder Strube, where he was last responsible for the sugar beet sales. With his international background and his experience from complex phases of change, Mr v. Hahn will take over the areas of breeding, research and finance as well as coordinating the management board.

Daniel Westermann, who grew up on a farm, studied agricultural sciences in Göttingen. After graduating, Mr Westermann was responsible for international seed production and various management positions in sales at Deutsche Saatveredelung AG (DSV). 

In 2020, Mr Westermann moved to Deutsche Industriebau, where he gained entrepreneurial experience. With his broad sales experience, Mr Westermann will be responsible for the business areas of seed production, product management, marketing and sales.

With the new management team, the NORIKA shareholders are setting the course for the continuation of successful breeding work, a secure supply of quality seed potatoes for agriculture and sustainable growth for the NORIKA Group.