Change in management at Formel D: Thomas Klukas takes over as CEO, Jürgen Laakmann to step into a consultant role

Cologne, 03 September 2021. Formel D, a global service provider to the automotive and supplier industry, has named Dr. Thomas Klukas the new Chief Executive Officer of the Formel D Group, effective September 6, 2021. Dr. Jürgen Laakmann steps down as CEO, a decision taken jointly and in agreement with the advisory board, and will continue to work with the executive board and the company as a consultant.

Dr. Jürgen Laakmann shaped Formel D’s activities since 2002, first as a member of the executive board and then during the past five years with full responsibility as CEO. Under Dr. Laakmann’s leadership, Formel D has grown strongly in recent years, expanding its service portfolio and entering new international markets. In 2020, Jürgen Laakmann, together with Dr. Thomas Klukas as COO and Gian Mario Deligios as CFO, launched the Group’s strategic realignment, which is now being implemented step by step. In the future, Jürgen Laakmann will support the management board as a consultant.

Dr. Laakmann: “Our company’s history is a success story – and I am very proud that I was able to write it together with our management and employees. Now I am delighted to pass the company’s operative management on to my valued colleagues Dr. Thomas Klukas and Gian Mario Deligios, which I do with every confidence, and to continue to support them as a consultant.”

Ralph Heck, chairman of the advisory board of Formel D: “Dr. Laakmann has established the Formel D Group as a global partner to the automotive and supplier industry that ensures quality along the entire value chain. On behalf of the entire advisory board, I extend a heartfelt vote of thanks to Jürgen Laakmann for his extraordinary and longstanding commitment and the impressive track record. We wish him all the very best for his personal and professional future.”

Ralph Heck continues, “We are delighted that, with Thomas Klukas in his new role as CEO and Gian Mario Deligios as CFO, the Formel D team will have a well established and highly competent management board to drive the further growth of the company successfully.”

Thomas Klukas assumed the position of chief operating officer (COO) at the Formel D Group in June 2020. The industrial engineer has many years of international experience and has already held various high-ranking international managerial positions in the testing, inspection and certification (TIC) industry.

Dr. Thomas Klukas: “I look forward to shaping the future of Formel D as CEO along with Mr. Deligios. We have an outstanding team that I am very proud of. Together, we will perpetuate the Formel D success story. I am fully confident that the growth strategy our company is already pursuing will put us in an even better position to provide our customers with active support as a strong partner in the TIC market.”

Dr. Jürgen Laakmann

Dr. Thomas Klukas

About Formel D

Formel D is a globally active service provider to the automotive and supply industry. The Group develops scalable solutions for quality assurance and process optimization along the entire automotive value chain – from product development and production to aftersales. Founded in 1993 in the Cologne area, Formel D now employs over 10,500 associates and is present across the globe with more than 90 locations in 22 countries.

Press contact

Formel D Group
pr@formeld.com | www.formeld.com


Download press release as PDF and high resolution photos