German material handling giant Kion Group AG today announced it had named an executive to lead the company's digitalization efforts and its supply chain solutions segment, appointing company outsider Susanna Schneeberger as chief digital officer (CDO).

The firm appointed Schneeberger to its executive board for a five-year term, saying it had added a fifth seat to that board as part of its commitment to its "Kion 2027" strategy of updating its business strategy to adapt to the industry trends of supply chain digitalization, automation, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

By renewing its focus on digitalized customer solutions, robotics, and automation, Kion intends to reinforce its position as a provider of industrial trucks and warehouse automation technology and software, the company said. Kion's supply chain solutions segment also includes logistics systems integrator Dematic Corp., which the firm acquired in 2016.

The role of CDO is a new position within Kion, so Schneeberger does not replace anyone in the corporate structure, Henrik Hannemann, the company's senior director of corporate media relations and external communications, said in an email.There will be no change in the strategic direction or operational management of the Dematic operating unit, with the exception that Dematic President & CEO Hasan Dandashly will now report to Schneeberger instead of to Kion CEO Gordon Riske, Hannemann said.

Schneeberger, 44, joins Kion following leadership roles at Finnish crane manufacturer Konecranes Plc, German crane vendor Demag, and Swedish engineering firm Trelleborg AB. That experience in the lifting and material handling industry will allow her to advance Kion's portfolio of software and digitalization products, John Feldmann, chairman of Kion's supervisory board, said in a statement.