Parker Announces Retirement of EMEA President Joachim Guhe, Appoints Thomas Ottawa as Successor

Rhea-AI Summary

Parker Hannifin (NYSE: PH) announced leadership changes in its EMEA operations. Joachim Guhe, President of EMEA Group, will retire after 32 years of service, stepping down on June 30, 2025, and remaining until August 31, 2025, to ensure transition. Thomas Ottawa, currently Vice President of Operations - Motion Systems Group Europe, will succeed as EMEA President effective July 1, 2025.

Guhe, who joined Parker in 1993, progressed from Product Cost Accountant to EMEA President, driving operational excellence, growth, and margin expansion. Ottawa, with nearly 30 years at Parker, joined in 1995 and has been instrumental in improving financial performance and driving profitable growth. In his new role, Ottawa will oversee nearly 14,000 team members across 22 countries.

Positive

• Planned smooth leadership transition with 2-month overlap period
• New EMEA President has 30 years of company experience
• Current leadership achieved significant growth and margin expansion in EMEA region
• New appointment manages 14,000 employees across 22 countries

Negative

• Loss of 32-year veteran executive with proven track record

CLEVELAND, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Parker Hannifin Corporation (NYSE: PH), the global leader in motion and control technologies, today announced that Joachim Guhe, President - Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Group, will retire after 32 years of dedicated service. Mr. Guhe will step down from his current role on June 30, 2025, but continue with the company until August 31, 2025, to ensure a successful leadership transition.

The company has appointed Thomas Ottawa, currently Vice President of Operations - Motion Systems Group Europe, to succeed Mr. Guhe as President - Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Group, effective July 1, 2025.

“In the more than three decades he spent with us, Joachim progressed from an entry level role to head of the critically important EMEA region, and then led EMEA through improvements that drove operational excellence and led to significant growth and margin expansion,” said Andy Ross, President and Chief Operating Officer. “In addition to his many contributions over the years, we thank Joachim for a career that exemplifies Parker leadership and wish him the very best in retirement.” 

Mr. Guhe joined Parker in 1993 as a Product Cost Accountant in Bielefeld, Germany. He progressed through increasingly senior roles across Parker’s Fluid Connectors, Engineered Materials and Filtration Groups, including as division General Manager and Vice President of Operations. In his current role as EMEA President, he has been responsible for leading Parker’s sales companies and commercial operations in the region, as well as its HR, Finance, IT, Marketing and Supply Chain functions. 

Commenting on Mr. Ottawa’s new role as President for the EMEA Region, Mr. Ross said, “Thomas will take on this important leadership role with nearly 30 years of Parker experience, a deep knowledge of our global operations and a proven record of success.” He added, “We are highly confident the EMEA region will continue to thrive under his guidance and are fortunate to have such a strong leader to drive our performance to even greater levels.”

Mr. Ottawa joined Parker in 1995 as a Graduate Trainee with the Fluid Connectors Group Europe, where he held positions of increasing responsibility, including as division General Manager. He became General Manager of the Prädifa Technology Division in 2015. Mr. Ottawa was promoted to his current role as Vice President of Operations - Motion Systems Group EMEA in 2019 and has been instrumental in improving the group’s financial performance and driving profitable growth in the region. In his new role as EMEA President, he will oversee nearly 14,000 team members across 22 countries. He holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Bochum in Germany.

About Parker Hannifin
Parker Hannifin is a Fortune 250 global leader in motion and control technologies. For more than a century the company has been enabling engineering breakthroughs that lead to a better tomorrow. Learn more at www.parker.com or @parkerhannifin.

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FAQ

When will Joachim Guhe retire as Parker Hannifin's EMEA President?

Joachim Guhe will step down as EMEA President on June 30, 2025, and remain with Parker until August 31, 2025, to ensure a successful leadership transition.

Who is replacing Joachim Guhe as Parker's EMEA President?

Thomas Ottawa, currently Vice President of Operations - Motion Systems Group Europe, will succeed Joachim Guhe as EMEA President effective July 1, 2025.

How many employees will Thomas Ottawa oversee as Parker's new EMEA President?

In his new role as EMEA President, Thomas Ottawa will oversee nearly 14,000 team members across 22 countries.

What were Joachim Guhe's achievements during his tenure at Parker (PH)?

During his tenure, Guhe drove operational excellence and led to significant growth and margin expansion in the EMEA region, progressing from an entry-level role to head of the EMEA region.

How long has Thomas Ottawa been with Parker Hannifin?

Thomas Ottawa has been with Parker Hannifin for nearly 30 years, joining the company in 1995 as a Graduate Trainee with the Fluid Connectors Group Europe.