Kurt Loosli Junior (61) will join the Board of Directors of EAO Holding as Vice President at the beginning of 2023 after more than 25 years of operational management. He has been managing the wholly family-owned EAO company in the second generation since 2001. Bruno Cathomen (55) will take over as CEO at the beginning of 2023. He was most recently CEO at the machine manufacturer Mikron. Bruno Cathomen has a broad range of skills in electrical engineering and production science. He has many years of experience as a business manager and has an excellent knowledge of EAO's application markets.

Continuity and stability assured

The current succession solution is typical of EAO's history. The decision, which was planned for the long term, ensures continuity and stability in operational management for the coming years. EAO is convinced that in Bruno Cathomen it has found a very capable and experienced successor to Kurt Loosli as CEO. The timing for the operational handover is also favourable. EAO is on an exciting path to a successful future. Important goals are the consistent digitalisation of products and work processes as well as the further development of the strategic markets Railway, Heavy Duty, and Special Vehicle.

Kurt Loosli moves to the Board of Directors

As CEO, it has always been important for Kurt Loosli to be personally present, to maintain contact with employees and customers and to know their needs. In doing so, he places great importance on understanding his own products and knowing the differentiating factors. «These have been great years for me, with all kinds of challenges. The Board of Directors now offers me the opportunity to help shape the company from a new perspective. In this way, I remain an entrepreneur in the service of EAO» says Kurt Loosli. He is also happy about the succession solution with Bruno Cathomen as CEO: «The new impulse from outside is valuable for the development of EAO. Bruno Cathomen brings in valuable new ideas and can thus secure and further increase EAO's success in the long term.»

A globally successful company

EAO was founded in 1947 by Kurt Loosli Senior and René Thalmann as a very small company. Today, with over 600 employees worldwide, the company is one of the largest industrial enterprises in Solothurn. Anyone who travels by bus or train has already touched many of EAO's products. The Olten-based family business manufactures buttons, switches, and complete operating systems, among other things for public transport. EAO is one of the world's leading manufacturers in these markets.