4 Executive Committee

4.1 Members of the Executive Committee

The members of the Executive Committee report directly to the CEO. The CEO reports to the Board of Directors. On December 31, 2023, the Executive Committee was composed of the following persons:

Alex Waser

Automotive engineer HTL, MBA, born in 1967, a Swiss national. From 2010 until joining Bystronic, Alex Waser managed the majority of European markets for Ecolab, a US provider of systems solutions for the food industry, working from Ecolab’s European headquarters at Ecolab Europe GmbH, Wallisellen. Between 1994 and 2010, he worked for the SPX Group, a company that offers workshop equipment and diagnostic systems for the automotive industry worldwide. During this time, he performed a number of management functions in Europe and in the United States, including most recently as President of Service Solutions responsible for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa regions at SPX Europe GmbH, Hainburg (Germany). Alex Waser is a member of the Board of Directors of Reishauer Beteiligungen AG, as well as a member of the committee for machine tools at Swissmem and Swiss Delegate at the European association CECIMO. He will step down as CEO of Bystronic effective July 2024.

Johan Elster

Dipl.-Ing. ETH (mechanical engineering), born in 1964, a Norwegian national. Johan Elster is responsible for all European Group entities. In addition, he holds the position of Chief Sales Officer, responsible for global sales. Johan Elster joined Bystronic in October 1996 as Managing Director of Bystronic Scandinavia. From 2007 to 2008, he was Head of Market Region Northern Europe and from 2009 to 2012, President of Market Division NAFTA and Europe North. Between 2013 and 2020, he was President of Business Unit Markets, responsible for all markets except China. Prior to joining Bystronic, Johan Elster was Commissioning and Startup Manager at Ems Inventa AG. Johan Elster has more than 25 years of sales and service experience in the sheet metal processing industry. He will retire effective April 2024.

Norbert Seo

Master’s degree in electrical engineering and communications technology, born in 1964, a German national. Norbert Seo joined Bystronic in January 2015 as Senior Vice President of Market Division Asia & Australia. He is responsible for the expansion of Bystronic’s activities in the Asia and Pacific region with the objective of increasing Bystronic’s customer proximity in Asia and increasing the expertise of the sales and service organization in the region. Prior to joining Bystronic, he was President of FFG Asia Pacific. Norbert Seo has 25 years of experience in the machine tools sector, including various management positions in Asia with Hwacheon and DMG.

Eamon Doherty

Degrees in business administration, born in 1968, an Irish national. Eamon Doherty assumed the role of Chief Service Officer with responsibility for the Services business unit on January 1, 2021. This role covers commercial aspects including customer satisfaction and improvements across all technologies. Joining Bystronic in 2016, he took over the responsibility for commercial excellence, supporting the organization on its journey towards world-class service. From 1994 to 2016, he worked for Ecolab Inc., a global organization that develops and offers services, technology, and systems for the chemical industry. During this time, he held various management positions, most recently as Vice President of North & Western Europe.

Beat Neukom

Business economist HWV/Certified Management Accountant (CMA), born in 1970, a Swiss national. Beat Neukom joined Bystronic as Chief Financial Officer in May 2021, also taking over responsibility for the global IT organization in January 2022. Prior to joining Bystronic, he worked for the Merz Pharma Group, Germany, where he was group CFO from 2014 to 2021, responsible for finance, IT, and strategic sourcing. In addition, he was responsible for Merz Pharma’s commercial operations in Latin America. Previously, Beat Neukom was CFO of two startup companies in the life sciences industry, one of which he co-founded. From 1997 to 2008, he worked for the medical technology company Johnson & Johnson in Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the US.

John-Paul Surdo

MBA (University of Wisconsin), born in 1984, American citizen, joined Bystronic in June 2023. John-Paul Surdo has been responsible for the Market Region Americas since October 2023. In this position, he is responsible for the sales and service subsidiaries as well as the manufacturing subsidiary in the North and South American market. Prior to joining Bystronic, John-Paul Surdo worked in various management positions, most recently as Chief Operating Officer, Europe, at the NCH Corporation, a leading global marketer of industrial maintenance products in London. He has more than 15 years of experience in sales, marketing, and management.

Dr. Song You

Doctorate in robotics and automation, MBA, born in 1970, a US national. Dr. Song You joined Bystronic in March 2016 as Representative Director and President of Bystronic China. Since then, his responsibilities have included sales, services, marketing, R&D, strategic development, and production in China. Prior to joining Bystronic, Dr. Song You held various management positions with the Delphi Corporation and the SPX Corporation in the USA and China. Most recently, he held the position of Vice President of the SPX Corporation, in charge of the Asia Pacific region. He has a record of success with a variety of responsibilities ranging from R&D to operations and general management functions.

Alberto Martinez

Computer engineer (University of Deusto), MBA (IESE Business School), born in 1971, a Spanish national. Alberto Martinez has headed the Competence Center Software Services since September 2018 and the Solution Center since August 2020, initially as a member of the Extended Executive Committee and since January 2022 as a member of the Executive Committee. From August 2020 until December 2021 he also headed the global IT department. Prior to joining Bystronic, Alberto Martinez worked as a software engineer for Lantek, from 1999 as Chief Technical Officer (CTO) and from 2004 to 2018 as CEO. He has profound knowledge of the sheet metal processing industry and more than 25 years of experience in the field of software.

Alex Waser

Automotive engineer HTL, MBA, born in 1967, a Swiss national. From 2010 until joining Bystronic, Alex Waser managed the majority of European markets for Ecolab, a US provider of systems solutions for the food industry, working from Ecolab’s European headquarters at Ecolab Europe GmbH, Wallisellen. Between 1994 and 2010, he worked for the SPX Group, a company that offers workshop equipment and diagnostic systems for the automotive industry worldwide. During this time, he performed a number of management functions in Europe and in the United States, including most recently as President of Service Solutions responsible for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa regions at SPX Europe GmbH, Hainburg (Germany). Alex Waser is a member of the Board of Directors of Reishauer Beteiligungen AG, as well as a member of the committee for machine tools at Swissmem and Swiss Delegate at the European association CECIMO. He will step down as CEO of Bystronic effective July 2024.

Beat Neukom

Business economist HWV/Certified Management Accountant (CMA), born in 1970, a Swiss national. Beat Neukom joined Bystronic as Chief Financial Officer in May 2021, also taking over responsibility for the global IT organization in January 2022. Prior to joining Bystronic, he worked for the Merz Pharma Group, Germany, where he was group CFO from 2014 to 2021, responsible for finance, IT, and strategic sourcing. In addition, he was responsible for Merz Pharma’s commercial operations in Latin America. Previously, Beat Neukom was CFO of two startup companies in the life sciences industry, one of which he co-founded. From 1997 to 2008, he worked for the medical technology company Johnson & Johnson in Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the US.

Johan Elster

Dipl.-Ing. ETH (mechanical engineering), born in 1964, a Norwegian national. Johan Elster is responsible for all European Group entities. In addition, he holds the position of Chief Sales Officer, responsible for global sales. Johan Elster joined Bystronic in October 1996 as Managing Director of Bystronic Scandinavia. From 2007 to 2008, he was Head of Market Region Northern Europe and from 2009 to 2012, President of Market Division NAFTA and Europe North. Between 2013 and 2020, he was President of Business Unit Markets, responsible for all markets except China. Prior to joining Bystronic, Johan Elster was Commissioning and Startup Manager at Ems Inventa AG. Johan Elster has more than 25 years of sales and service experience in the sheet metal processing industry. He will retire effective April 2024.

John-Paul Surdo

MBA (University of Wisconsin), born in 1984, American citizen, joined Bystronic in June 2023. John-Paul Surdo has been responsible for the Market Region Americas since October 2023. In this position, he is responsible for the sales and service subsidiaries as well as the manufacturing subsidiary in the North and South American market. Prior to joining Bystronic, John-Paul Surdo worked in various management positions, most recently as Chief Operating Officer, Europe, at the NCH Corporation, a leading global marketer of industrial maintenance products in London. He has more than 15 years of experience in sales, marketing, and management.

Norbert Seo

Master’s degree in electrical engineering and communications technology, born in 1964, a German national. Norbert Seo joined Bystronic in January 2015 as Senior Vice President of Market Division Asia & Australia. He is responsible for the expansion of Bystronic’s activities in the Asia and Pacific region with the objective of increasing Bystronic’s customer proximity in Asia and increasing the expertise of the sales and service organization in the region. Prior to joining Bystronic, he was President of FFG Asia Pacific. Norbert Seo has 25 years of experience in the machine tools sector, including various management positions in Asia with Hwacheon and DMG.

Dr. Song You

Doctorate in robotics and automation, MBA, born in 1970, a US national. Dr. Song You joined Bystronic in March 2016 as Representative Director and President of Bystronic China. Since then, his responsibilities have included sales, services, marketing, R&D, strategic development, and production in China. Prior to joining Bystronic, Dr. Song You held various management positions with the Delphi Corporation and the SPX Corporation in the USA and China. Most recently, he held the position of Vice President of the SPX Corporation, in charge of the Asia Pacific region. He has a record of success with a variety of responsibilities ranging from R&D to operations and general management functions. 

Eamon Doherty

Degrees in business administration, born in 1968, an Irish national. Eamon Doherty assumed the role of Chief Service Officer with responsibility for the Services business unit on January 1, 2021. This role covers commercial aspects including customer satisfaction and improvements across all technologies. Joining Bystronic in 2016, he took over the responsibility for commercial excellence, supporting the organization on its journey towards world-class service. From 1994 to 2016, he worked for Ecolab Inc., a global organization that develops and offers services, technology, and systems for the chemical industry. During this time, he held various management positions, most recently as Vice President of North & Western Europe.

Alberto Martinez

Computer engineer (University of Deusto), MBA (IESE Business School), born in 1971, a Spanish national. Alberto Martinez has headed the Competence Center Software Services since September 2018 and the Solution Center since August 2020, initially as a member of the Extended Executive Committee and since January 2022 as a member of the Executive Committee. From August 2020 until December 2021 he also headed the global IT department. Prior to joining Bystronic, Alberto Martinez worked as a software engineer for Lantek, from 1999 as Chief Technical Officer (CTO) and from 2004 to 2018 as CEO. He has profound knowledge of the sheet metal processing industry and more than 25 years of experience in the field of software.

4.2. Rules contained in the Articles of Association Regarding the Number of Permitted Roles

According to Art. 28 of the Articles of Association of the company, no member of the Executive Committee¹ may accept more than four mandates, of which no more than two may be in companies listed on the stock exchange. Any such mandate must be approved by the Board of Directors.

These restrictions do not apply to:

• mandates in companies controlled by the company or that control the company;
• mandates taken up by a member of the Executive Board on the instruction of the company. No member of the Executive Board may take up more than ten such mandates; and
• mandates in associations, charitable foundations, and pension foundations. No member of the Executive Board may take up more than ten such mandates.

Mandates include appointments in the respective highest management body, executive board, or on the advisory board of another company with economic purpose. Mandates in different legal entities under joint control or with the same economic beneficiary are regarded as a single mandate.

4.3 Management contracts

Bystronic AG has not concluded any management contracts with companies or individuals from outside the Group.