Media Release

Stäfa (Switzerland), March 2, 2023 – Sonova Holding AG, a leading provider of hearing care solutions, announces today that Katya Kruglova will assume the position of Group Vice President Human Resources & Communications and join the Sonova Management Board effective May 2023. She is a seasoned HR leader with more than 25 years of global experience in large-scale organizations and a proven track record in driving best-in-class people processes, strategic growth and transformation initiatives. Katya will succeed Claudio Bartesaghi, who has decided to pursue other career opportunities outside of Sonova.

With a background in highly regulated industries, including medical devices, life sciences and financial services, Katya comes with broad experience in enabling business success through a focused talent and organizational development agenda. She joins Sonova from GE Healthcare, a global medical technology company, which has over 50,000 employees worldwide and where she led a global HR team located in more than 30 countries as VP Human Resources, based in the UK. Her responsibilities included strategic HR leadership partnering with the CEO and executive peers to advance business growth, company culture and organizational development, evolving the employee experience and talent agenda, as well as reward, leadership effectiveness, learning and HR technologies. She also played a key role in the spin-off of GE Healthcare into a publicly listed company. Prior to that, Katya held HR positions with growing responsibilities in various General Electric entities, including GE Healthcare Life Sciences and GE Capital.

Arnd Kaldowski, CEO of Sonova, says: “With Katya, we were able to win a highly qualified and experienced people-focused HR leader for our management team. As Sonova continues to grow, we will benefit from her experience operating in a global,  large-scale organization with strong HR practices and processes. With her particular focus on talent development, diversity and inclusion – coupled with a dedication to operational excellence – I am convinced that she will make a strong contribution to our future success. I look forward to working closely with her.”

Katya will join Sonova in mid-March 2023. After an immersion and transition period, she will succeed Claudio Bartesaghi as GVP Human Resources & Communications in May, 2023. 

Arnd Kaldowski adds: “Claudio can look back on an excellent track record in his 13 years with Sonova, covering several leadership roles across our regions. In his responsibility to drive our global people agenda, he helped both our business and our employees to successfully navigate organizational growth and transformation. Claudio developed the Human Resources & Communications team into a strong partner and enabler of business performance, while making sure we offer employees an attractive, inclusive and rewarding workplace. Furthermore, he was instrumental in driving our sustainability efforts and helped establish Sonova as a leader in this field. On behalf of the management team and all employees, I would like to sincerely thank Claudio for his contributions to Sonova’s success and wish him the very best for his future endeavors.”

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Disclaimer
This Media Release contains forward-looking statements, which offer no guarantee with regard to future performance. These statements are made on the basis of management’s views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance at the time the statements are made. They are subject to risks and uncertainties including, but not confined to, future global economic conditions, exchange rates, legal provisions, market conditions, activities by competitors and other factors outside Sonova’s control. Should one or more of these risks or un-certainties materialize or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those forecasted or expected. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement, and Sonova undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

About Sonova
Sonova is a global leader in innovative hearing care solutions: from personal audio devices and wireless communication systems to audiological care services, hearing aids and cochlear implants. The Group was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Stäfa, Switzerland.

Sonova operates through four businesses – Hearing Instruments, Audiological Care, Consumer Hearing and Cochlear Implants – and the core brands Phonak, Unitron, AudioNova, Sennheiser (under license) and Advanced Bionics as well as recognized regional brands. The Group’s globally diversified sales and distribution channels serve an ever growing consumer base in more than 100 countries.

In the 2021/22 financial year, the Group generated sales of CHF 3.4 billion, with a net profit of CHF 664 million. Over 17,000 employees are working on achieving Sonova’s vision of a world where everyone enjoys the delight of hearing.

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Sonova shares (ticker symbol: SOON, Security no: 1254978, ISIN: CH0012549785) have been listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 1994. The securities of Sonova have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”), or under the applicable securities laws of any state of the United States of America, and may not be offered or sold in the United States of America except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements under the U.S. Securities Act and in compliance with applicable state securities laws, or outside the United States of America to non-U.S. Persons in reliance on Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act.