Changes to ista's Management Board: Anke Dassler becomes new CFO, Michaela Hitzberger is responsible for the newly created technology board area, former CFO Thomas Lemper[...]

ista SE, a leading company for real estate services and energy management in buildings, is strengthening its Management Board team: alongside CEO Hagen Lessing and Chief Sales Officer Oliver Schlodder, Anke Dassler will be responsible for Finance as CFO and Michaela Hitzberger for the new technology board area from July 1, 2024. The previous CFO Thomas Lemper will leave the company after 17 years of successful work.

Anke Dassler, a proven expert in finance, has been appointed to the Management Board as Chief Financial Officer. As a partner at KPMG, she worked for many years as an auditor and advised leading financial institutions on optimizing their financial processes. Anke joined Evonik in 2018 and held various management roles in finance and human resources. In particular, as Head of Accounting and Controlling, she was responsible for the further development of the Group's financial management and the integration of sustainability aspects. Anke Dassler is a Certified Tax Consultant and Certified Public Accountant (Texas, USA). She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Human Resources Management and Finance from California State University and an MBA in General Management from the European School of Management and Technology Berlin (ESMT).

Michaela Hitzberger, already Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of ista, will also be appointed to the Management Board. After completing her studies, she held various positions at renowned management consultancies such as AFRY, KPMG and Accenture. Since joining the company in 2020, she has made a significant contribution to the development and implementation of the corporate strategy. She has also played a key role in the transformation of the company and the development of hardware and service innovations. Hitzberger holds a degree in business administration and studied in Bamberg and Jyväskylä, Finland. "Anke Dassler is an exceptionally highly qualified and experienced financial manager. She will give us many new impulses. With her, the finance department will play a central role in our company-wide agile transformation," said ista CEO Hagen Lessing. "Michaela Hitzberger has made a decisive contribution to ista's growth in recent years with her strategic foresight and comprehensive operational understanding. In her new Management Board position, the topics of strategy, technology and acquisitions will be coherently interlinked and consistently implemented in line with ista's strategy. The newly composed Management Board will work together to ensure that ista plays a leading role in the decarbonization of the real estate sector in Europe," added Hagen Lessing.

Thomas Lemper, ista's former CFO, is leaving the company after 17 years of successful work. He had asked the Supervisory Board to terminate his contract prematurely in order to pursue a new professional challenge. The Supervisory Board accepted his request with respect and appreciation. Lemper started in 2006 as a consultant in Group Controlling and took over responsibility for Controlling in the core market of Germany in 2009. After a period as Regional CFO in the USA, he returned to Germany in 2014 to head up Group Controlling. Thomas Lemper was appointed CFO in 2018.

"Thomas Lemper has significantly strengthened ista's financial structure and thus played a key role in shaping ista's growth. We are very grateful for his contribution to the successful development of the company over many years and wish him all the best for the future," says Lessing.