Dr. Hans Michael Kellner to Take on Global Strategic Growth Role at Messer Group, Building on Four Decades of Industrial Innovation
Lenzburg, Switzerland — Dr.-Ing. Hans Michael Kellner, Managing Director of Messer Schweiz AG, will take on a new role as Chief Marketing Officer of the Messer Group beginning in October 2026, expanding his responsibilities from the Swiss organization to the strategic growth of the internationally operating group.
With about four decades of experience in the industrial gases sector, Dr. Kellner brings an engineering background, commercial experience, and extensive leadership expertise to his expanded responsibilities. His career has focused on industrial gases, hydrogen technologies, sustainable development, and the practical application of new technologies.
In his new position, Dr. Kellner will contribute to the strategic growth of the Messer Group and support the wider implementation of new technologies and innovations across its international operations.
A Career Built on Engineering and Industrial Experience
Dr. Kellner’s professional journey combines engineering expertise with commercial and executive leadership.
After developing an early interest in industrial technology, he pursued engineering studies with a focus on energy and process engineering before building his career in the industrial gases sector.
Over the course of his professional career, he has worked across technical, commercial, and management functions, developing experience in areas ranging from process engineering and specialty gases to hydrogen applications and sustainable industrial technologies.
His leadership approach has been shaped by the view that technological development must be supported by practical implementation, commercial discipline, and long-term planning.
Leading Messer Schweiz AG
As Managing Director of Messer Schweiz AG, Dr. Kellner has been responsible for the company’s Swiss operations and its activities across a range of industrial and commercial sectors.
During his more than two decades of leadership, Messer Schweiz has expanded its business while maintaining a stable workforce. The organization has also continued to develop technologies focused on hydrogen, energy efficiency, and sustainable industrial applications.
The industrial gases sector supports a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, food and beverages, electronics, energy, and advanced technologies. As these industries respond to changing energy and environmental requirements, the sector is experiencing significant technological development.
Hydrogen and Industrial Innovation
Hydrogen has been an important area of Dr. Kellner’s professional work for many years.
Messer Schweiz has been involved in several hydrogen-related developments, including the supply of hydrogen for early fuel-cell applications and the development of hydrogen filling infrastructure.
One of the notable developments associated with the organization was the use of metal hydride technology for hydrogen compression. The technology enables hydrogen to be compressed to high pressures without conventional electrically driven compression systems.
Messer Schweiz also developed an industrial hydrogen compressor capable of reaching pressures of up to 700 bar without moving components or direct electrical power consumption for the compression process.
These developments reflect Dr. Kellner’s approach to engineering: identifying technologies that can address practical industrial requirements while considering efficiency, scalability, and long-term sustainability.
Innovation and Sustainable Development
A central element of Dr. Kellner’s professional philosophy is what he describes as “economic environmental protection.”
The approach focuses on developing sustainable and energy-efficient solutions that can also remain economically viable.
For industrial companies, he believes environmental progress needs to be considered together with competitiveness, infrastructure requirements, and long-term economic realities.
The transition toward hydrogen and other alternative energy technologies presents opportunities across transportation, manufacturing, energy, and other industrial sectors. At the same time, successful implementation requires infrastructure, investment, technical expertise, and cooperation between industry stakeholders.
The Human Side of Industrial Leadership
Technology is only one part of Dr. Kellner’s leadership approach.
Throughout his career, he has emphasized the importance of employee engagement, professional development, collaboration, and creating an environment where employees can contribute ideas.
At Messer Schweiz, this philosophy has included initiatives designed to encourage communication across organizational levels and support professional development.
Dr. Kellner considers the ability to bring together different perspectives an important component of innovation, particularly in industries where complex technical and commercial challenges require multidisciplinary solutions.
A New Chapter for Global Growth
With his transition to the role of Chief Marketing Officer of the Messer Group in October 2026, Dr. Kellner will bring his experience in industrial gases, engineering, technology development, and business leadership to a broader international mandate.
The new responsibility comes at a period of significant change across the industrial and energy sectors, with hydrogen, decarbonization, energy efficiency, and alternative technologies continuing to influence investment and business strategies.
In his expanded role, Dr. Kellner expects to contribute to the faster implementation of new technologies across the Messer Group and support the international development of emerging sustainable solutions.
“The possibilities to improve something with gases seemed limitless to me when I started my career. I continue to see the same potential today, particularly when technology, sustainability and practical industrial application come together,” said Dr. Kellner.
Looking Ahead
The coming years are expected to bring continued changes to the industrial gases and energy sectors. The development of hydrogen infrastructure, alternative energy solutions, and more efficient industrial processes will require both technological development and strategic implementation.
For Dr. Hans Michael Kellner, the next chapter will build on four decades of engineering and industrial experience while expanding his focus to the strategic growth of the Messer Group internationally.
His professional journey from engineering and process technology to executive leadership and hydrogen innovation continues to evolve as the industrial sector moves toward new technologies and sustainable solutions.
Media Contact
Dr. Hans Michael Kellner
Managing Director & CEO – Messer Schweiz AG
President – Swiss Industrial Gases Association
Vice-President – Hydropole
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-hans-michael-kellner-a7948ab7
Website: https://www.messer.ch
Email: Hans-Michael.Kellner@messergroup.com
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Money Virtuo journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
