Huf sets the course for the next phase of transformation: On January 1, 2026, Dr. Lars Placke will take over the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO), succeeding Rainer Heupel, who is leaving the company at his own request. With this decision, Huf is sending a clear signal for ongoing improvement: In 2025, Huf gained a reliable partner in Sodecia, secured strong financing and is following a comprehensive plan to secure its financial stability.
“We would like to thank Rainer Heupel for his outstanding achievements. He has made a significant contribution to Huf's financial stability and winning Sodecia as a strong partner,” says Ulrich Hülsbeck, Chairman of the Advisory Board at Huf. "Rainer Heupel informed us months ago that he would not be renewing his expiring contract for personal reasons, demonstrating once again that he always acts in the best interests of the company. This allowed us to carefully prepare for his succession and to recruit the ideal person to shape the further transformation at Huf.”
Florian Gräf, Deputy Chairman of the Advisory Board, adds: “Dr. Lars Placke is not a traditional financial manager – and that is precisely what makes him the ideal person for the reorientation of the CFO role. During his previous time at Huf, he laid the foundation for a sustainable improvement program at Huf and introduced it systematically. In his new role, he will leverage financial stability to drive operational excellence and customer focus through our strategy focusing on regions. For Huf, this strategy means a stronger presence in the markets, faster decisions, better products and innovations for our customers.”
Dr. Lars Placke, a graduate in physics with a doctorate in psychology, held various positions at Huf from 2016 to 2022, rising to the position of Chief Performance Officer on the Huf Executive Board. During this time, he introduced a global lean program and laid the foundation for numerous improvement processes at Huf. In 2023, he took over the position of CEO at the SaarGummi Group. On January 1, 2026, Dr. Lars Placke will return to Huf as CFO and form the management team together with CEO Rui Monteiro and COO Dirk Fischer.
Huf concludes eventful year with decisive steps to secure stability and drive transformation
2025 marked a year of important progress for Huf, with Sodecia joining as a minority shareholder and a successful refinancing strengthening the company’s position. Building on this foundation, Huf will continue to execute a comprehensive plan to ensure long-term stability and future success. This approach demonstrates reliability to customers, suppliers, and financial partners while consistently pursuing profitable growth – driven by a regionalization strategy that enhances customer proximity and operational excellence.
