Management

Thomas Körmendi is the Group’s CEO and President. He joined the Group in 2018. Körmendi has more than 30 years of extensive management and business development experience from several international companies. Prior to joining the Group, Körmendi held the position as the CEO of Kezzler AS. Körmendi has also served as a member of the board of directors of One Nordic AB. In addition, he has held the position as CEO of the Relacom Group, Interim CEO of Cardo Flow Solutions, Managing Director of Tetra Pak Bulgaria, Turkey, Caucasus and Hungary and as the Vice President of Tetra Pak with responsibility for the North Europe region. Körmendi holds a Master of Science in Economics from Copenhagen Business School. Previous directorships and senior management positions last five years: One Nordic (board member), Kezzler A/S (CEO) and Körmendi & Co (Senior Business Advisor).

Bent K. Axelsen is the Group’s CFO. He joined the Group in 2019. Axelsen is an experienced executive with broad international experience across a range of professions ranging from finance to business development, marketing, product management and business operations. In addition to Norway, Axelsen has particular business experience from Asia, after living two years in Singapore and 4 years in Thailand. Prior to joining the Group, Axelsen spent more than 15 years in Yara International ASA where he held several managing positions including the position as CFO & SVP Global Business Excellence, SVP Marketing & Business Development, CFO Crop Nutrition and Vice President and Country Manager Thailand. In addition, Axelsen has held several positions in Norsk Hydro including the position as Business Development Manager in Hydro Agri and analyst in the Corporate Strategy Team. Axelsen holds a Master’s degree in Economics from BI Norwegian Business School. Previous directorships and senior management positions last five years: Yara International ASA (CFO & SVP Global Business Excellence and SVP Marketing & Business Development respectively).

Ivar Jevne is the Group’s Executive Vice President MPS (Material and Product Supply) & Procurement. He first joined the Group in 2005 and was promoted to his current position in 2013. As such, Jevne has more than 15 years of experience from within the Elopak system starting out as the Group Purchasing Director/Chief Purchasing Officer. Prior to joining the Group, Jevne held the position as Principal at A.T. Kearney. Jevne holds a Master of Science from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Wolfgang Buchkremer is the Group’s Chief Technology Officer. He first joined the Group in 2011 and was promoted to his current position as CTO in 2018. As such, Buchkremer has 10 years of experience from within the Elopak system starting out as a Senior Manager within Research & Engineering. Prior to joining the Group, Buchkremer held the position as Manager for Advanced Development for KHS. In addition, Buchkremer has been the Deputy Head of Technology Pool Machine for SIG Combibloc. Buchkremer holds an Engineer degree in Automation Technology from Fachhochschule Aachen University of Applied Sciences. Current directorships and senior management positions: Elopak GmbH (general manager), Elopak Inc. (board member).

Nete Bechmann is the Group’s Chief Human Resources Officer. She joined the Group in 2020. Bechmann has more than 30 years’ experience within human resources, leadership and finance. Prior to joining the Group, Bechmann held the position as executive HR business partner in Vestas Wind Systems AS, she has also held several HR positions within Arla Foods. Nete Bechmann has a Graduate Diploma in Accounting. Current directorships and senior management positions: Aarhus Katedral Gymnasium (board member). Previous directorships and senior management positions last five years: Business Aarhus/International Community (member of executive committee), Vestas Wind Systems A/S (executive HR business partner).

Patrick Verhelst is the Group’s Chief Marketing Officer. He has been with the Group since 2019. Verhelst has more than 30 years of experience within marketing, sales and leadership from holding managing positions in several international companies. Prior to joining the Group, Verhelst held the position as Director Sales, Marketing and Innovation for the Wipak Group. He has also been the Vice President Sales for Coveris Group, the Business Group Strategy Director, Program Director Sales & Marketing Transformation and Marketing Director Europe for SCA Packaging. In addition, Verhelst has held several managing positions for General Electric Plastic including Global Business Manager, Product Manager Europe and Sales & Marketing Manager Europe. Verhelst is a Civil Engineer in Chemistry and Agricultural Sciences and holds a Master in Business Management from the Vrije Universiteit in Brussel. In addition, Verhelst has a degree in Business-to-Business Marketing from the Economic School of Management in Brussel. Previous directorships and senior management positions last five years: Wipak Group (Director Sales, Marketing & Innovation)

Stephen Naumann is the Group’s Executive Vice President for Region Europe North and CIS. He has been a member of Elopak Group Leadership Team since 2007. Naumann has nearly 30 years of experience within Elopak, starting as Sales and Marketing Manager in 1992. He took several steps during the following years with the first milestone as General Manager of Elopak GmbH Germany in 1997. Followed by taking the additional responsibility for the NL and UK markets. In 2005 he became VP Northern Europe and Global Accounts. In 2007 Naumann joined the GLT as an EVP Europe North and West. In 2015 he became Executive VP Region Europe & Mediterranean & Rollfed and has since 2019 been the EVP for Europe North and CIS. Naumann holds a degree as Wirtschaftsassistent Industrie, comparable to a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. Current directorships and senior management positions: FKN e.V. (board member delegated by Elopak GmbH).

Lionel Ettedgui is the Group’s Executive Vice President for the North America region. Ettedgui has been appointed EVP Region America since September 2019. He has more 20 years’ experience in the operations of international large-scale corporations. Prior to joining the Group, Ettedgui was the President and CEO of Colabor Group. In addition, Ettedgui served more than 6 years as President and Chief operating officer of Saputo Bakery division until it was sold to Grupo Bimbo in 2015. In 2005, he founded Kooll Desserts, a state-of-the-art dairy plant with products listed at all retailers in Canada, the Company was sold to Liberté (Yoplait Group) in 2008. In addition, Ettedgui has held various executive positions in Europe and Africa within trade, operations management and business development. Ettedgui has also served on the board of directors of several companies including 7 years at Montreal Sacré-Coeur Hospital Foundation and 7 years at CTAQ (Quebec Food processing council). Ettedgui holds a degree in Business from the Institut Supérieur de Gestion. Current directorships and senior management positions: Elopak Canada (board member), Elopak Inc. (board member), Envases (board member) and IY (board member). Previous directorships and senior management positions last five years: Mito Sushi (member of advisory board), 123KLAN (member of advisory board), Fondation Hopital Sacre Coeur (board member) and Groupe Colabor (president and CEO).

Finn M. Tørjesen is the Group’s Executive Vice President for Region Europe South and New Markets. Tørjesen has held the position as EVP since May 2019 and has been with the Group since 2000. Tørjesen has been an international marketing and sales executive for more than 25 years. Tørjesen holds a Master of Business from the University of Strathclyde and a Bachelor W Honours from Oslo Business School. Current directorships and senior management positions: Elopak Spa Italy (chairman), Elopak Nampak JV (board member) and The Norwegian Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Madrid (board member). Previous directorships and senior management positions last five years: Elopak Obeikan JV (board member).