HELM AG Expands Supervisory Board with Top-Tier Automotive Expertise

Barbara Frenkel serves as a member of the Board of Directors at Viasat and ranks among the most distinguished female executives in the European automotive industry. Throughout her career, she has played a decisive role in shaping the strategic evolution of global supply chains, advancing sustainability initiatives, and driving the transformation of the automotive supplier landscape. 

A native of Franconia, she studied chemistry in Bayreuth and rubber technology in Hanover before embarking on an international career in the supplier industry at companies such as Valeo and TRW Automotive. In 2021, Barbara Frenkel made history as the first woman appointed to the Executive Board of Porsche AG. In this capacity, she provided significant impetus toward building more resilient supply chains, advancing sustainable procurement practices, and fostering innovative future technologies, including eFuels. 

Barbara Frenkel represents a modern, performance-oriented leadership style defined by strong execution capabilities and strategic foresight. She has successfully steered organizations through complex challenges, including the semiconductor crisis and periods of geopolitical tension. With a remarkable career trajectory—from automotive supplier to executive board member of one of the world’s most prestigious sports car manufacturers—she is widely regarded as a trailblazer for women in senior leadership roles. 

Dr. Ralph Kiessling is a globally experienced senior executive in the chemical, materials, and automotive supplier industries, bringing more than 30 years of leadership experience in multinational and publicly listed companies. He currently serves as Senior Advisor at Arthur D. Little, where he supports organizations in transformation and growth initiatives, with a strong emphasis on strategic execution and operational excellence. 

Over the course of his career, Dr. Kiessling has held numerous senior management and C-level positions at Umicore, as well as at the former Degussa and Evonik Industries. In these roles, he was responsible for leading international business units across Advanced Materials, Process Technology, and Automotive Catalysts. His areas of expertise include the transformation of global organizations, the optimization of production and technology sites, and the establishment of high-performing international structures. 

In 2019, Dr. Kiessling was appointed Executive Vice President of Catalysis at Umicore, having previously served as Senior Vice President of Operations for Automotive Catalysts since 2015. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles in process engineering, production, and business controlling, including several years in China. In 2012, he relocated to India, where he played a pivotal role in establishing Umicore’s automotive catalyst plant. 

Having lived and worked in Germany, China, India, and Belgium, Dr. Kiessling brings extensive international management and transformation experience. He is recognized for his strong strategic acumen, intercultural competence, and a clear focus on sustainable corporate development, operational efficiency, and the successful execution of complex transformation processes. 

The expansion of the Supervisory Board also marks a transition within the Hamburg-based family-owned company. David Neumann, CEO of the Hamburg-based Neumann Kaffee Group, is stepping down from the HELM Supervisory Board after 17 years of dedicated service. 

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to David Neumann for his longstanding commitment. At the same time, I am delighted that, with Barbara Frenkel and Dr. Ralph Kiessling, we have gained two exceptional and inspiring personalities for HELM. As part of our comprehensive transformation—particularly in light of our new lithium division—it is essential to further strengthen our capabilities in global process optimization and deepen our engagement with the automotive industry. The newly added expertise will be instrumental in achieving these objectives,” said HELM AG CEO Stephan Schnabel. 

The reconstituted Supervisory Board of HELM AG now comprises Chairwoman Petra Scharner-Wolff, CEO of the Otto Group, consultant and former Henkel Executive Board member Bruno Piacenza, as well as the two newly appointed members. Through this strategic realignment, HELM is placing a clear emphasis on a balanced combination of international experience, deep industry knowledge, and strong entrepreneurial expertise.