METTLACH (dpa-AFX) - Ceramics manufacturer Villeroy & Boch will have a chief executive officer in Gabi Schupp at the beginning of next year. The supervisory board appointed her to the post on Tuesday, the company announced in Mettlach. Schupp will succeed CEO Frank Goring.

"I am very pleased that in Gabi Schupp we have been able to recruit a very successful and trusted leader from our own ranks to take on this major responsibility," said supervisory board chairman Andreas Schmid.

Schupp has reportedly been responsible for the "Dining and Lifestyle" division, which includes such items as tableware, glassware and cutlery, for the past five years. Before joining Villeroy & Boch, Schupp spent more than 20 years at U.S. consumer goods group Procter & Gamble, according to the statement.

Goring, whose contract ends at the end of 2023, will devote more time to private interests in the future, Villeroy & Boch added. However, he will remain with the company as an advisor for the integration of the acquired Belgian faucet and sanitary product manufacturer Ideal Standard.

The company, headquartered in Mettlach, Saarland, had recently lowered its annual targets because the weakening construction industry is causing it problems. In 2022, Villeroy & Boch had sales of around Euro 995 million and employed around 6400 people worldwide./chs/DP/he