Management changes in Nobia's German activities

Heiko Mittag has decided to resign as Business Unit Manager for Poggenpohl Möbelwerke GmbH and will in mutual understanding with Nobia Management leave his position end December 2002. The company management will continue to be able to call upon Heiko Mittag for a transitional period.
 
At that time Elmar Duffner (42) will assume the position as Business Unit Manager for Poggenpohl. Elmar Duffner has been successful in his current position, as the Business Unit Manager for the Nobia company Optifit, which he has held since 1999, bringing the company to a turn around in spite of a declining German market.
 
Poggenpohl has, since the acquisition from Nobia in September 2000, successfully carried through a comprehensive restructuring of the company. The company will continue to pursue its strategy to further strengthen its position in the high-end sector and its world-wide corporate identity for the Poggenpohl brand.
 
- I'm happy that Elmar Duffner will assume this position. He has during his time with us already shown great leadership skills and the ability to unite an organisation towards a common goal. In addition he has a convincing market experience and knowledge of the kitchen business. I feel very confident about the future for our Poggenpohl brand, comments Nobia's CEO Fredrik Cappelen. I would also like to thank Heiko Mittag for his dedicated work, in particular in the sales field, and wish him all the best for the future.
 
Elmar Duffner will keep his responsibilities at Optifit, assisted by Leo Brecklinghaus, Technical Manager at Optifit, who will be the acting Local Manager. Recruitment of a new Business Unit Manager will commence immediately.
 
Nobia AB
16 December 2002
 
Further Information:
Fredrik Cappelen, President and CEO, Tel +46 8 440 16 02
Katarina Sivander, Communications Manager, Tel +46 8 440 16 07
 
See also Nobia's website www.nobia.se
 
Nobia is Europe's leading kitchen interiors company. The Group operates in a number of European markets under strong brand names. Nobia's own specialist kitchen stores are, together with franchise stores, responsible for most of the Group's sales. Nobia is leading the consolidation of the European kitchen market and creating profitable growth by making efficiency improvements and acquisitions, taking an industrial approach. The Group has sales of approx. SEK 10 billion annually and around 6,000 employees. Nobia is listed on Stockholmsbörsen's O-list.
 
Gower - HTH - Invita - Magnet - Marbodal - Myresjökök - Norema - Novart - Optifit - Poggenpohl - Pronorm - Sigdal