The Hansgrohe Group Mourns the Loss of Siegfried Gänßlen

Former Chairman of the Executive Board of Hansgrohe passed away at the age of 79

Schiltach, January 2026. On January 14, 2026, Siegfried Gänßlen, former Chairman of the Executive Board of the Hansgrohe Group, passed away at the age of 79, shortly before his 80th birthday. Born in Stuttgart, he joined Hansgrohe GmbH & Co. KG in 1994 as Managing Director responsible for Controlling, Finance, and Human Resources. Over more than two decades, he played a decisive role in shaping the development of the Black Forest–based sanitary specialist. From 2008 until his retirement due to age, Siegfried Gänßlen served as Chairman of the Executive Board.

“With the passing of Siegfried Gänßlen, we lose a highly respected architect of Hansgrohe’s success story,” says Hansgrohe CEO Hans Jürgen Kalmbach. “As a dedicated corporate leader, he made a significant contribution to Hansgrohe’s evolution into one of the world’s leading manufacturers of faucets and showers. In particular, his consistent drive for internationalization, the strengthening of our innovative capabilities, and the sustained improvement of our business performance are among his major achievements.”

In his role as Chief Financial Officer and Deputy CEO, Siegfried Gänßlen began establishing key organizational structures and processes in 1999 that supported the company’s profitable international growth. Under his leadership, the then rapidly expanding markets in Asia as well as in Africa and the Middle East gained significant importance for Hansgrohe. Alongside his recognized professional expertise, Siegfried Gänßlen had a remarkable ability to inspire, challenge, and support employees. A passionate controller—he also served as Chairman of the Board of the International Controller Association (ICV)—he was always eager to pass on his extensive knowledge to young professionals.

“Yet his strengths were not limited to figures and processes,” Hans Jürgen Kalmbach continues. “Siegfried Gänßlen was a down-to-earth, approachable, and direct leader. He knew the markets, understood the products, and maintained close relationships with our customers around the world. For this, we owe him deep gratitude. What shaped him most was his profound understanding of leadership. The development of people, the promotion of international talent, and a comprehensive understanding of different corporate functions were always at the heart of his work. Many of us—including myself personally—owe him for his inspiration. I am deeply grateful to him for our time together and for my own personal development. It is a personal priority for me to continue these principles of talent development in my role as CEO. We will miss Siegfried Gänßlen greatly—as a person and as a trusted advisor.”

The Executive Board, the Supervisory Board, all employees of the Hansgrohe Group and its shareholder, Masco, mourn the loss of Siegfried Gänßlen. Their thoughts are with his wife and family.

About the Hansgrohe Group – Setting the Beat of Water. Since 1901.

With its brands AXOR and hansgrohe, the Hansgrohe Group, based in Schiltach/Southern Germany, enjoys a reputation as a leader in innovation, design and quality within the bath and kitchen industry. Founded in 1901 in the Black Forest, the company gives water form and function with its faucets, showerheads and shower systems. In combination with sanitary ceramics and bathroom furniture, the company offers individual design options from a single source for holistic bathroom experiences. The 124-year history of the company is marked by innovations, such as the first hand-held shower with multiple spray types, the first pull-out kitchen faucet, and the first wall bar to hold a hand-held shower.The company holds more than 23,000 active property rights. The Hansgrohe Group stands for long-lasting quality products and for responsibility towards people and the environment. Sustainable production of resource-conserving products is central to the company’s business activities around the globe. By developing innovative technologies for faucets and showers, Hansgrohe achieves the greatest possible effect on protecting water as a resource and limiting and adapting to climate change during the usage phase of its products. As part of its consistent sustainability strategy, Hansgrohe is equipping all water-bearing products exclusively with water-saving technologies by 2030 within its "ECO 2030" initiative. With 35 subsidiaries and 22 sales offices supplying products in more than 145 countries, the globally active company in the sanitary industry is a reliable partner to its customers in all regions of the world. The Hansgrohe Group, its brands and products have won numerous awards, including more than 800 design prizes since 1974. The products of the Hansgrohe Group are found around the world: on renowned cruise ships, in luxurious 5-star and boutique hotels, in international metropolitan cities, in extraordinary spas, exclusive bathrooms of lodges and luxury villas, public facilities, as well as in countless private homes. The Hansgrohe Group’s high quality standards are ensured by eight wholly-owned production facilities: four in Germany, one each in France, in Serbia, the United States and China. In 2024, the Hansgrohe Group generated a turnover of EUR 1.387 billion. It employs around 5,600 people worldwide, about 60 percent of whom work in Germany.