New board member for Gardena

Thomas Heinl, 47, is the new chief operations officer (COO) at Ulm-based Gardena. He was previously managing director of Gardena Manufacturing GmbH and has worked for the company since 1997. On the board of the parent company he is replacing Dr Friedrich Böbel, 43, who is departing from the supplier of irrigation technology and gardening equipment at his own request. Martin Bertinchamp remains chairman of the directorate and Erich Schefold continues in his position as finance director.