Posted by Rachel Westall on 29 May 2025
A significant leadership change is underway at the globally active family-owned business Schwan-STABILO. With operations spanning Writing Instruments, Cosmetics, and Outdoor, and revenues of approximately €800 million, the Group employs more than 5,200 people in 38 locations worldwide. After nearly three decades in various leadership roles, Sebastian Schwanhäußer (61) will step down from his operational responsibilities at the end of the current fiscal year and assume the position of Chairman of the Advisory Board on July 1, 2025.
A New Group CEO: Michele Molon
Michele Molon is an Italian national with more than 25 years of international leadership experience across both family businesses and listed corporations. He joins Schwan-STABILO from Swarovski, where he held various global executive roles since 2010 and has been a member of the Swarovski Executive Committee (EXCO) since 2017. Most recently, he served as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Swarovski International. In this role, he led the company's entire commercial platform — including Retail, E-Commerce, Wholesale, and B2B Components — across over 150 global markets.
A Personal Commitment
For Michele Molon, joining Schwan-STABILO is a values-driven decision. He deeply appreciates re turning to a family business environment shaped by entrepreneurial spirit, long-term thinking, and a strong cultural foundation. “Leading three vastly different business units under the roof of a single company is a complex yet incredibly exciting task,” says Molon. “It’s a rare opportunity — and one I take on with humility and determination. I want to thank the shareholders for their trust. The strength of any company lies in its people, and Schwan-STABILO is built on a culture of care, courage, and creativity. I believe in em powering talent, listening deeply, and leading with clarity and conviction. He continues: “The world around us is not waiting — and neither should we. Constant evolution is the only way forward. My priority will be to strengthen our innovation capabilities and translate great ideas into tangible, prof itable results — quickly and decisively. Together, we’ll keep moving, keep building, and keep earning our place in the future.”
Outgoing CEO Sebastian Schwanhäußer adds: "Michele Molon is an excellent personal and professional fit for us. He brings deep international experience, a profound understanding of family businesses, and a strong connection to brand heritage and markets. His instinct for innovation and creativity gives him precisely the edge we need for Schwan-STABILO's further development His Italian origins is also a welcome addition to our diverse leadership culture."
Change to the Advisory Board Sebastian Schwanhäußer, representative of the fifth generation of the family, has initiated the generational change at Schwan-STABILO after almost three decades in leading management positions believing that "a generational change is a sensitive moment - especially after so many years of consistency. We planned this step at an early stage and prepared it independently of external factors. In my opinion, an early change is better than a late one. With our decision, we are creating space for fresh impetus and the kind of rejuvenation we need. At the same time, we are also relying on a clear distribution of roles: operational responsibility is being handed over to new forces, while the family remains on board for the long term direction. As a family-owned company, we think in terms of generations, not years. With a view to the next generations, this is a good step into the future.".
Commenting on his future role, he said: "For me, this transition is above all about changing perspective. I am deeply grateful for the trust that comes with my appointment as Chairman of the Advisory Board and look forward to this new role: supporting the Group as a sparring partner and representative of the owning family. My heartfelt thanks go to everyone who has accompanied me on my journey over the past few years - the more than 5,000 employees worldwide, my colleagues and our shareholders. Their contribution has made a lot of things possible and has had a significant impact on this time."
