Leadership Transition at CemeCon as Bernd Hermeler Appointed CEO as Dr Oliver Lemmer Steps Down

Würselen, Germany — CemeCon, a global leader in high-performance tool coatings, has announced a strategic restructuring of its Executive Board to ensure long-term stability and technological continuity. Effective May 1, 2026, Dipl.-Ing. Bernd Hermeler has assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Dr.-Ing. Oliver Lemmer, who is stepping down after a distinguished tenure.

A Legacy of Excellence

The outgoing CEO, Dr Oliver Lemmer, has been a cornerstone of CemeCon’s technological evolution since its early years. A long-time collaborator of founder Dr. Toni Leyendecker, Dr Lemmer transitioned to the CEO role in 2022. Under his leadership, the company solidified its reputation for organizational excellence and PVD HiPIMS innovation.

“In dynamic times, personnel stability is a key to success,” noted Dr Lemmer. “With Bernd Hermeler at the helm, we guarantee our partners a high degree of continuity in reliability and innovative strength.”

Internal Continuity at the Helm

Bernd Hermeler, who has shaped CemeCon’s trajectory for over 35 years, brings an unparalleled depth of institutional knowledge to the CEO position. Having served on the Executive Board since 2018—most recently as Chief Operating Officer (COO), Hermeler has held pivotal leadership roles across both technical and commercial departments.

“CemeCon possesses world-leading technology in Diamond and PVD HiPIMS coatings,” said Hermeler. “Building on this foundation, our goal is to lead with first-class quality in all key international markets.”

Strategic Reinforcement

To fill the vacancy left by Hermeler’s promotion, Christoph Feig has been appointed as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO). A materials science engineer, Feig returns to CemeCon with a wealth of external expertise, having managed large-scale maintenance organizations in the steel and aluminum sectors. Since his return in 2024, he has undergone a structured transition to lead CemeCon’s technical service and operations.

Rounding out the leadership team, Dr-Ing Beate Hüttermann remains in her role as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). With the company since 1987, Dr Hüttermann continues to spearhead global sales, product management, and marketing strategies, ensuring that CemeCon’s market presence remains robust amidst global volatility.

Image Source: CemeCon