KNDS Appoints Dr. Arno Schmitz-Urban as Executive Vice President Strategy

KNDS, the leading pan-European land defense systems company, today announced the appointment of Arno Schmitz-Urban as Executive Vice President (EVP) Strategy. In this role, he will be responsible for shaping and executing the Group’s strategic agenda, supporting long-term growth, and strengthening KNDS’s position in a rapidly evolving defense and security environment.

Arno Schmitz-Urban brings more than 15 years of experience in corporate strategy, mergers & acquisitions (M&A) and portfolio development across defense, industrial and technology-driven sectors. Since 2024 he has served as Director, Group Strategy Development and M&A at Vaillant Group in Germany. Prior to that, he held several senior leadership roles at Rheinmetall Group, including Vice President, Corporate Development. Earlier in his career, he worked at ERGO Group in Corporate Strategy. Arno holds a Doctorate in Industrial Engineering from RWTH Aachen University.

“Arno brings a strong track record in strategy and M&A, as well as deep sector expertise. His leadership will be key in contributing to KNDS’s next phase of growth. He will lead the development and execution of a comprehensive Group strategy aligned with the company’s mission, vision, and long-term objectives. As a key member of the leadership team, he will oversee the execution of major strategic initiatives, and lead the Group’s M&A activities, focusing on evaluating and pursuing inorganic growth opportunities,” said Jean-Paul Alary, CEO of KNDS.

KNDS

Click here to read the latest issue of ESD.