The change in leadership, announced last year, was formalized at the company’s annual meeting last week. Eibensteiner succeeds Wolfgang Eder, who has joined the company’s supervisory board. 

“I am very happy about my new position as CEO and I look forward to continuing to further develop voestalpine’s successful business model in a consistent way," Eibensteiner said.  "With a focus on innovation, internationalization, and value-added growth as well as our commitment to sustainability, we will continue our journey towards a technology group."

Eibensteiner has been with voestalpine since 1989 and most recently served as head of its steelmaking division, a position he has held since October 2014. As part of the succession, Hubert Zajicek, who previously served as the steel division’s head of technology, will now oversee the entire division.