Management Board at Vita34 AG expanded with Director of Sales and Marketing

Leipzig, May 17, 2016 – The Supervisory Board of Vita 34 AG (WKN A0BL84) has appointed Dr. Wolfgang Knirsch as Director of Sales and Marketing effective June 1, 2016. The growth strategy at Vita 34 will be strengthened sustainably by the appointment of Dr. Knirsch.

The market-leading position of the company in the German-speaking countries is to be persistently expanded, and additional market share in Europe won. The company enters new growth markets in Europe by means of expansion via local cooperative sales efforts. In addition, Vita 34 plans on establishing and operating umbilical cord blood banks in selected growth markets in Asia and Latin America together with partners. Vita 34 taps potential profits in new markets via geographic diversification, lending the entire business model additional and sustainable stability.

The new Sales Director is taking the position with the goal of tapping the existing potential in markets that Vita 34 AG is already active in via focused and efficient measures and, in addition, to identify and establish additional markets.

Dr. Knirsch will take responsibility for the Sales and Marketing departments as of June 1, 2016. The other departmental responsibilities will remain the same. Dr. André Gerth, the CEO, is responsible for Strategy, Production, and Research & Development. Mr. Falk Neukirch, the CFO, is responsible for Finance, Human Resources, Legal, Investor Relations, IT, and Purchasing.

Dr. Hans-Georg Giering, Supervisory Board Chairman: “I am very pleased that we have been successful in bringing on Dr. Knirsch as a member of the Vita 34 Management Board. His marketing and sales experience in and around Biotechnology for significant companies will give Vita 34 an additional development boost. Dr. Knirsch has a brand and long track record in the efficient cultivation and development of national and international markets, in particular with regard to specialty and niche products.

Following his doctorate in inorganic chemistry at RWTH Aachen, Dr. Knirsch began his professional career in the sales team at Hoechst AG. Subsequently, he successfully led various national and international marketing and sales departments, as well as business development departments there, at Merck KGaA, and finally at Biotest AG. Apart from other indications, during this time he gathered comprehensive knowledge of the fields of haemato-oncology, gynecology and obstetrics. In his last position, Dr. Knirsch was responsible at Biotest AG for international sales, where he persistently boosted sales and profit through the consistent implementation of marketing and sales strategies with cooperation partners worldwide.

Company Profile

Vita 34 was founded in 1997 as the first private umbilical cord blood bank in Europe and, as a complete provider, offers collection logistics, preparation and storage of umbilical cord blood. The basis for its successful work is an outstanding position in the technological segment of cryo-preservation. Here, cells and tissue are preserved alive at some -190ºC for long periods of time, and can be used if needed in the context of medical treatment. More than 145,000 families are already taking advantage of this offering and have provided for their children with a stem cell deposit at Vita 34.