CFO completes transformation phase at industrial gas specialist and announces his departure in 2026.
Bad Soden / Frankfurt am Main (Deutschland), February 4, 2026 - After six formative and successful years at industrial gas specialist Messer as a member of the Executive Management Board and at the helm of the global finance organization, Helmut Kaschenz has decided at his own request to step down from his role as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in the course of 2026. Helmut Kaschenz will continue to head the finance organization until an orderly handover. A successor has not yet been named.
Helmut Kaschenz joined Messer in early 2021 as Chief Strategy Officer and assumed responsibility as global CFO in 2022. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in the strategic development of the company and in securing Messer’s long-term independence.
Under his leadership as a member of the Executive Board and CFO, key milestones were achieved: the acquisition of the shares of private equity company CVC Capital Partners in Messer Industries in 2023, the integration of Messer Industries into Messer, and the comprehensive refinancing of the group, which is based in Asia, Europe, and America, with additional equity capital through the entry of the Singaporean sovereign wealth fund GIC.
In addition, Helmut Kaschenz strengthened the finance functions, global governance, processes, and the company’s financial stability while further enhancing its capital market readiness and access. His more than 25 years of experience in investment banking and his broad network of institutional investors and banks enabled the successful implementation of complex financial transactions.
During his tenure, Messer achieved sales exceeding €4.5 billion and EBITDA of around €1.4 billion in 2024, combined with significant growth, margin improvement, and high investments in a capital-intensive industry. Messer plans to publish its results for 2025 in April.
Stefan Messer, shareholder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board, pays tribute to Helmut Kaschenz: "With his strategic foresight, financial expertise, and great commitment, Helmut Kaschenz has played a decisive role in shaping Messer's history in recent years. His contribution to securing our ownership structure, long-term financing, and the further development of our global finance organization is invaluable.“
Bernd Eulitz, CEO, adds: ”I greatly value working with Helmut, especially during the landmark transaction. Messer is very well positioned and, thanks to Helmut’s work, has a strengthened and impressive finance organization."
More Information:
Messer SE & Co. KGaA
Diana Buss
Senior Vice President Corporate Communications
T: +49 2151 7811-251
M: +49 173 5405045
E-Mail: diana.buss@messergroup.com
