Hoppecke further strengthens its senior management team

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25.

January

2016.

Hoppecke further strengthens its senior management team

P R E S S R E L E A S E

Ref: PRHP74 Date: 26^thJanuary 2016

Hoppecke further strengthens its senior management team

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Hoppecke Industrial Batteries has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of five managers as part of a continuing major restructuring programme. The new members of staff, which are a combination of internal and external appointments, follow hot on the heels of Jason Howlett becoming Hoppecke's new Managing Director for the UK in September last year.

Based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Hoppecke Industrial Batteries has experienced significant business success and growth in recent years. Since Howlett joined, the company has adopted a much clearer focus on the future and has put quality and availability of service at the heart of what it offers customers in terms of power management and energy storage solutions.

Key to this ethos is the appointment of Stuart Browne as Service Director to focus strongly on supporting customers' needs to maximise their Hoppecke products. Bringing with him 20 years of experience in field operations management, Browne has worked with such leading names as De La Rue and Jungheinrich.

Andy Neville joins the business as Operations & Supply Chain Manager, with his priorities to instil a culture of world class customer service, production, parts availability and operational excellence. Andy will also drive Hoppecke's "lean" performance and ensure a safe, efficient working environment for all the company's workers.

Another key appointment is that of Gus Whyte as Sales Director. A familiar face to many in the industry, Gus has worked in motive power for 38 years. With a genuinely global pedigree, he has vast experience in the technology and sales of motive power batteries, chargers, battery changing systems, and electronic management systems.

Still in sales, Hoppecke has announced the appointment of Dave Summerfield as Director of Business Development UK and International Key Accounts Germany. Dave has been in the battery business since 2005 and has looked after some of the biggest OEMs in the sector.

And finally, Hoppecke has previously never had a Human Resources Manager dedicated to - and located in - the UK but that has changed with the appointment of Sarah Wheat. Sarah will focus on transforming learning and development of the UK team and ensuring Hoppecke delivers the very best terms and conditions in the industry for its employees.

Jason Howlett said of the new appointments: "If anyone ever doubted Hoppecke's level of commitment to the burgeoning UK energy management sector, adding these five highly skilled and hugely experienced individuals to the existing team proves just how serious we are about our key markets. Current and future customers and partners can feel assured that they are going to benefit from the absolute highest level of customer service in our sector. I'm really excited for 2016 and beyond!"

Hoppecke's CEO, Dr Marc Zoellner, added: "I recently announced that we are in the process of a substantial investment programme in the infrastructure of Hoppecke in the UK and these senior appointments are an essential part of that policy."

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Additional biographical notes for Editors

Stuart Browne is eager to apply his vast experience in the new post, working closely with Hoppecke's in-house team and customers to build on the company's strengths of quality, technology and service. Stuart said: "I am determined that we will continue to improve our customer service, using our national team of engineers to deliver the services our customers rely upon to maintain their motive power systems in excellent condition."

Andy Neville has held senior operational management roles for more than 20 years, mainly concentrating on operational excellence, health and safety and establishing robust processes and procedures. During his career, Andy has worked in various industries, in roles such as distribution development manager for the UK's largest building materials supplier or head of supply chain for an Ardex GmbH subsidiary in the UK, Ireland and UAE. These roles have seen him specialising in inventory management, global logistics and supplier/customer development and collaboration.

Gus Whyte has held several positions within Hoppecke since he first joined the company in 2000 as the UK National Accounts Manager involved in product development and project design, supply and implementation. During his time in Brilon, Germany, Gus became Director of Systems and set up the Hoppecke Group Systems Division. He later took on the role (also in Germany) of Director of International Business - Motive Power to develop global export business, mainly in Africa, India, Scandinavia, former Yugoslavia and parts of the Far East.

On his return to Hoppecke UK, Gus has reinvigorated his passion for supplying users of electric powered materials handling equipment with ‘low whole-life cost' products and systems. In particular, he is focused on providing users with safe, efficient and economical systems by supplying quality products which lower the cost of mains electric, maintenance and equipment damage within their operation.

Dave Summerfield had worked with Hoppecke UK for nearly three years before his current appointment. In that time he turned Briggs Equipment (UK) into Hoppecke's biggest account and Hoppecke into a preferred supplier. He also forged a supplier's agreement with the NACCO Materials Handling Group (NMHG), which provides international support for Hyster and Yale lift trucks. Hoppecke is now on NACCO's preferred suppliers list and Dave has been able to take on a wider, more global role. A former soldier - he was in the army for 11 years - Dave began his civilian career in the cable management industry, where his first big contract was Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5.

Sarah Wheat has over 15 years of HR experience within the utility, financial, manufacturing and automotive industries - including npower and Rapiscan Systems. Her first task at Hoppecke has been to establish a dedicated HR department, with the priorities of implementing a robust performance management process, training programme and recruitment process while overseeing employee benefits. Sarah has also set about standardising employee contracts and updating the staff handbook as well as all of Hoppecke's policies and procedures.

About Hoppecke Industrial Batteries

Hoppecke is the leading specialist for industrial battery systems and at the same time the largest battery manufacturer in European ownership. Hoppecke offers to its customers around the world concepts for efficient and reliable power supply for every industrial application. A leading exponent of environmental care for more than 80 years, Hoppecke offers solutions for a variety of industries including motive power, reserve power for IT/telecoms, power stations, solar energy and UPS, special power for rail and underground. Hoppecke's UK operation is based in Newcastle-under-Lyme in the Midlands and the parent company has customers and business partners in many countries around the world, including Europe, the USA and China.

Image to accompany press release

Hoppecke's new senior management team. Left to right: Dave Summerfield, Stuart Browne, Sarah Wheat, Andy Neville and Gus Whyte

Media contact:

Sue Tupling

CHANGEWORKS Communications

t: 01785 247588

m: 07748 350725

e: sue@changeworkscom.co.uk

Company contact:

Jason Howlett

Hoppecke Industrial Batteries Ltd

Unit 2 Lowfield Drive