ZIM Aircraft Seating Group, a designer and manufacturer of commercial aircraft seating, has made changes to its management structure, with Stefan Kroll (62) now leading the Technology and Development division as group chief technology officer (CTO). Kroll also serves as president of ZIM Germany, giving him operative responsibility of the company’s sites in Germany.
ZIM Group reports that it has been enjoying steady growth in orders and capacity in recent years. The expansion of its executive leadership team is intended to create additional organisational stability to help sustain this growth. The board of ZIM Aircraft Seating Group now comprises Raffael Rogg (CEO), Yvonne McConachie (co-CEO) and Stefan Kroll (CTO).
Stefan Kroll has more than 36 years of experience in the international industrial sector, with expertise in engineering, production systems, and technological transformation. Most recently, he served as general manager and managing director at Bombardier Aviation Services in Berlin Schoenefeld. Prior to that, he held various senior positions in engineering, design and general management, including roles at Adient Aerospace, MT Aerospace, Jet Aviation, and Airbus.
“With Stefan Kroll, we have brought on board a seasoned expert to further develop our technical and organisational structures worldwide,” stated Raffael Rogg, CEO. “By expanding our board, we are laying the groundwork to shape our growth in a structured and forward-looking manner—with the goal of offering our customers innovative, sustainable, and comfortable seating solutions that make a measurable contribution to their economic success.”
Expansion of facilities and production capacity
ZIM began a programme of expansion for its engineering, production, and logistics facilities last year. The company plans to “significantly expand” its capacity in the coming years, particularly in Germany, in order to better meet the growing demand for aircraft seats. The goal is to strengthen the company’s industrial base while also further improving efficiency and on-time delivery.
ZIM has also secured new customers and expanded existing partnerships in recent months. At the same time, ZIM’s product portfolio in the economy class and premium economy-class seating segments has been expanded to meet growing demand from airlines.
Stefan Kroll stated: “ZIM Aircraft Seating has grown significantly in recent years and is now one of the world’s largest manufacturers of aircraft seats. The company has a strong foundation and clear growth potential. I am very much looking forward to playing an active role in shaping the further development of the sites in Germany and the technological direction of the ZIM Group.”
