PRESS RELEASE
Defence Group KNDS announces the departure of Dr. Wolfgang Buechele, Chairman of the Board
Amsterdam, June 02, 2025 – Dr. Wolfgang Buechele, who has served as a member of the KNDS Board since December 2020 and as Chairman since December 2024, has decided to step down from his role for personal reasons.
The French and German shareholders wish to express their sincere gratitude to Dr. Buechele for his decisive contribution to the growth and strategic development of KNDS over the past years. They extend their best wishes for his future endeavors.
In a context of profound and accelerating transformation in the defence sector, both shareholders are jointly engaged in appointing a new Chairman within the appropriate timeframe. Their shared objective is to ensure the continued growth of KNDS as European land defence systems leader.
Press contact
Véronique Creissels
Chief Communications Officer
KNDS N. V.
Gustav Mahlerlaan 1017
Mahler 1000, 3rd floor
The Netherlands
1082 MK Amsterdam
Telefon: +31 6 2470 3239
E-Mail : veronique.creissels@knds.nl
www.knds.com
About KNDS
KNDS is the result of the association of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Nexter, two of the leading European manufacturers of military land systems based in Germany and France.
KNDS forms a Group of more than 10,000 employees, with a 2024 turnover of 3.8 billion euro, an order backlog of around 23.5 billion euro and incoming orders of 11.2 billion euro. The range of its products includes main battle tanks, armored vehicles, artillery systems, weapons systems, ammunition, robotics, military bridges, customer services, battle management systems, training solutions, protection solutions and a wide range of equipment.
The formation of KNDS represents the beginning of consolidation in land defense systems industry in Europe. The strategic alliance between KMW (now KNDS Deutschland) and Nexter (now KNDS France) enhances both groups’ competitiveness and international positions, as well as their ability to meet the needs of their respective national army. In addition, it offers to its European and NATO customers the opportunity of increased standardization and interoperability for their defense equipment, with a dependable industrial base.
KNDS headquarters are based in Amsterdam.
