Stephan Josef Maria Kessel is a businessperson who has been at the helm of 14 different companies and currently holds the position of Chairman at Dayco LLC, Chairman-Supervisory Board for Stabilus S.A., Chairman for Dayco Products LLC, Co-Chairman-Supervisory Board at Stabilus GmbH and Chairman of Visiocorp Plc.

He is also on the board of Armacell Enterprise GmbH & Co. KG and Chairman-Advisory Board at Novem Car Interior Design GmbH and Managing Director at Eurodrip SA.

Dr. Kessel previously was Chairman at Gearbox SARL, Chairman of Etimex GmbH, Chief Executive Officer for Continental AG, Chief Executive Officer for Wildcat (Dutch) BV and President, Chief Executive Officer & Director at Wireco Worldgroup, Inc. (a subsidiary of Wildcat (Dutch) BV), Chairman of Global Safety Textiles LLC, Chairman of Armacell International GmbH, Chairman at TimePartner Group GmbH, Chief Executive Officer at NOVEM Beteiligungs GmbH, Operating Director at Paine Schwartz Partners LLC and Advisory Director at Investcorp International Ltd.

Dr. Kessel received a doctorate from RWTH Aachen University.