Elmar Duffner joins ALNO AG's management board as COO

- Long-standing managing director of Poggenpohl Möbelwerke GmbH to take over as CEO of ALNO AG in 2013

- CEO Max Müller: 'My stated aim is to hand over ALNO AG to Elmar Duffner as CEO at the 2013 AGM with a clear growth strategy and a solid financial basis'

- Key tasks as COO: operational management, expansion of international business and continued strengthening of premium brand ALNO

Pfullendorf, July 31, 2011 - Elmar Duffner, managing director of Poggenpohl Möbelwerke GmbH since 2002, will take over the position of COO of ALNO AG, one of Germany's leading kitchen manufacturers, by February 1, 2012 at the latest. In the role of COO, he will be responsible for international sales and distribution, production, purchasing, logistics, product development, marketing and communications. His other main priorities will be the international expansion of ALNO AG and the further enhancement of the company's premium brand ALNO. Duffner will take over as CEO from Max Müller at the company's AGM in 2013. Max Müller intends to join the supervisory board after this transition period, which is to ensure strategic continuity of leadership.

'My stated aim is to hand over ALNO AG to Elmar Duffner as CEO at the 2013 AGM with a clear growth strategy and a solid financial basis,' said CEO Max Müller. 'Mr. Duffner is the ideal choice for our management team. He knows the kitchen sector better than anyone else and has the international experience in sales and distribution that ALNO needs to strengthen its brand and the important international business.'

'With Elmar Duffner I see the operational management of ALNO AG in the best hands possible,' said Henning Giesecke, head of ALNO AG's supervisory board. 'I am pleased that with Duffner we have been able to bring a highly respected manager in the sector to ALNO AG.'

ALNO AG, which is Germany's second biggest and Europe's fourth biggest kitchen manufacturer, serves a wide range of customer target groups and price segments through its ALNO, WELLMANN, IMPULS and PINO brands. The company has three subsidiaries abroad and around 7,000 sales and distribution partners in 64 countries. Foreign sales accounted for 28.4% of revenues in the 2010 business year. The company's strategic goal under the leadership of Elmar Duffner is to significantly increase revenues from foreign sales.

Elmar Duffner was managing director of Poggenpohl Möbelwerke GmbH from 2002, where he successfully drove forward the international expansion of the premium kitchen manufacturer. Under his leadership the company grew at above-average levels and consistently posted a positive earnings performance. Elmar Duffner has been President of the Association of the German Furniture Industry since 2008 and sits on the board of several other industry associations.

'ALNO is the best known kitchen brand and covers the entire kitchen market with its four product segments, thus giving the company a unique market position,' said Elmar Duffner. 'I am looking forward to my new role. My aim is for us, together with the workforce and board, to make ALNO AG market leader in Germany once again. I see great potential particularly in the international business to position the ALNO brand even stronger in the top-end segment.'

About ALNO AG:
ALNO AG is one of Germany's leading kitchen manufacturers. It has four national production facilities and also a production facility in Dubai, and serves the German and international markets with a full range of kitchens. The ALNO Group has four brands: the core brand ALNO and also WELLMANN (classic/modern), IMPULS (minimalist) and PINO (entry-level prices). ALNO AG has around 7,000 distribution partners and is active in more than 64 countries. In fiscal year 2010 around 1,787 employees recorded revenues of approx. EUR 467.3 million. Foreign sales accounted for 28.4% of revenues.

Note for editors:
If you would like to find out more about ALNO and its products, then please visit our online press center at www.alno.ag/3687.0.html. There you can also find ready-to-print images of people and products.

Legal notice:
This press release may include forward-looking statements, which are based on the current expectations and forecasts of ALNO AG's management or its associated companies. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may lead to the actual results, financial position, or performance of ALNO AG and its affiliated companies deviating substantially from the estimates included herein. Neither ALNO AG nor its affiliated companies undertake to update any such forward-looking statement and to adjust these to future events or developments.

Contact:
CNC AG
Patricia Eschenlohr
T +49 (0) 172 8106376
E Patricia.Eschenlohr@cnc-communications.com