Freudenberg SE has announced that Dr Mohsen Sohi will retire as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on June 30, 2025, after a decade of leadership. Claus Möhlenkamp, a long-time executive at Freudenberg, will succeed Sohi as CEO of Freudenberg SE and Speaker of the Management Board Freudenberg & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft from January 1, 2025.
Möhlenkamp, with over 30 years of experience at Freudenberg, currently serves as CEO of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies. He has played a key role in shaping Freudenberg’s growth in electric mobility and fuel cell technologies. Mathias Thielen, Chairman of the Board of Partners, praised Möhlenkamp for his strategic vision and operational success, making him the ideal candidate to lead Freudenberg into the future.
Sohi, only the second non-family executive to lead the company in its 175-year history, has been credited with transforming the Freudenberg Group. In 2010, Dr Sohi, who holds a Doctor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA, joined the Freudenberg Group’s Management Board in Weinheim, initially as a Board member. By 2012, he had ascended to the position of Chief Executive Officer of both Freudenberg & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft and the newly established Freudenberg SE. Additionally, he has served as General Partner of Freudenberg & Co. KG since 2010, further solidifying his leadership role within the organization.
One of Sohi’s landmark initiatives was the launch of the ‘Focus 2.0’ organisational reform programme, which laid the foundation for a transformative corporate governance structure. This initiative sought to recalibrate the entrepreneurial strategies of Freudenberg’s Business Groups, sharpen their focus on customer needs and market demands, and enhance the company’s capacity for innovation. With operational business responsibilities redistributed among the individual Business Groups, the Management Board was able to concentrate more fully on shaping the long-term strategic direction of the company.
Under Sohi's visionary leadership, these reforms were accompanied by a concerted effort to streamline processes and drive efficiency gains. The introduction of the ‘House of Excellence’ framework encapsulated the key pillars of Freudenberg's growth strategy, reinforcing the corporate identity of the Freudenberg umbrella brand. Sohi also spearheaded the company's digital transformation, with a clear focus on delivering enhanced customer value and improving internal efficiencies through advanced digital tools and platforms.
During his decade at the helm, Freudenberg has seen its revenues and profits more than double. Following the principle of 'less administration, more innovation,' the company has consistently increased its annual investment in research and development by over 10%, reaching more than 600 million euros. Moreover, Sohi has steadfastly pursued a globally balanced approach, ensuring that one-third of the company’s sales are derived from each of its key regions: the Americas, Europe, and Asia. His leadership has been instrumental in positioning Freudenberg as a forward-thinking, innovation-driven leader in the global market.
Thielen said, 'Mohsen Sohi has left an indelible mark on what has been an exceptionally successful and profitable chapter in Freudenberg's 175-year history. Under his leadership, the company has undergone profound transformation, becoming more systematised, professionalised, and digitally advanced. These efforts have positioned Freudenberg to face future challenges with significant strength, flexibility, and a readiness to embrace change. His tenure has been defined by a close and trusting collaboration between the Management Board and the Board of Partners. The family and the company deeply appreciate his visionary leadership and the continued growth he has fostered.'
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