The Supervisory Board of WILO SE has renewed Oliver Hermes’ mandate as President and Global CEO for another six years, securing leadership continuity through 31 December 2031.
Supervisory Board Chairman Lars Roßner praised Hermes for developing the Wilo Group “sustainably and profitably over decades,” and stressed the importance of stable leadership as the company advances its AI-enabled water and pumping strategy.
Hermes, 55, has led the Wilo Group since 2006. In 2019, he was named entrepreneurial successor by family representative Dr.-Ing. h. c. Jochen Opländer, guiding the 154-year-old company into its fifth generation of leadership. He also chairs the Wilo-Foundation’s Board of Trustees, where he oversees corporate sustainability initiatives.
Strategic Focus on Intelligent Water Solutions
Describing the renewal as a “strong sign of trust” from employees and the Supervisory Board, Hermes said Wilo continues to position itself as a multinational leader in sustainable and intelligent water solutions. The company’s portfolio increasingly targets global demand for energy-efficient, digitally enabled pumping systems.
Roßner noted that Hermes has helped refine Wilo’s long-term strategy, particularly through the integration of AI, data analytics and smart infrastructure to optimize water management systems.
“Leadership continuity is critical for implementing Wilo’s growth strategy in both core markets and emerging segments,” Roßner added.
Tim Huetter Appointed General Representative
Alongside the CEO extension, the Supervisory Board appointed Tim Huetter, Wilo’s Global Vice President Strategy, as General Representative. Reporting directly to Hermes, Huetter will lead strategic projects and growth initiatives across Wilo’s global organization.
Huetter, 35, joined Wilo in 2019 and has led group strategy since 2025. He holds an Industrial Engineering background with academic experience in Germany, Japan, the United States and France — a combination seen as valuable to Wilo’s global expansion and digital water agenda.
Signals for Pumps and Water Markets
The leadership renewal signals a clear commitment to long-term, strategy-driven growth in the water technology and pumping sectors.
For global OEMs, utilities and industrial operators, the move underscores continued investment in energy-efficient pumps, expansion of digital services and smart monitoring, continuity in R&D and AI-driven innovation, and stability for project pipeline planning.
As water scarcity, sustainability demands and digital transformation accelerate, stable leadership allows customers and partners to anticipate product roadmaps, lifecycle services and strategic solutions.
Africa Market Relevance
For African utilities, industrial operators and infrastructure projects, continuity at Wilo’s helm carries particular significance. Markets including Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and Tanzania are investing in urban water systems, industrial water infrastructure, wastewater treatment, and building services tied to smart city initiatives.
These deployments benefit directly from Wilo’s digital and energy-efficient solutions, helping align operational reliability with sustainability goals and regulatory requirements.
AI and Engineering Context
Industry analysts point to AI, digital monitoring and predictive maintenance as transformative forces in water and pumping systems. Wilo’s strategy aligns with global momentum toward energy optimization, predictive maintenance using AI, digital lifecycle services and ESG-aligned sustainability commitments.
This positions the German-headquartered group as a technology-forward OEM while offering African stakeholders practical tools for efficient water management and infrastructure planning.
Why It Matters
The dual decision to extend Hermes’ mandate and elevate Huetter strengthens Wilo’s leadership bench and signals confidence to both global and African markets. It reinforces continuity in innovation, sustains OEM and customer trust, and underpins ongoing investment in AI-enabled pumping technologies for years to come.
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