February 2, 2012

Mayor Emanuel Announces ThyssenKrupp Will Open North American Headquarters in Chicago

German Technology and Materials Group to Open Headquarters Downtown in Summer 2012

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

CHICAGO - Mayor Emanuel announced today that the German technology and materials group ThyssenKrupp will open its Regional Headquarters for North America in Chicago in the summer of 2012. The new headquarters is expected to bring high–level jobs to the city and advance Chicago’s global leadership in the manufacturing and technology sectors.

“ThyssenKrupp’s decision to locate their North American headquarters in Chicago is a testament to the world-class business environment the city offers,” said Mayor Emanuel. “By combining transportation, infrastructure, and the best workforce in the world, Chicago is a destination for the greatest companies around the globe, and ThyssenKrupp is a perfect example of this.”

With annual sales of nearly $68 billion in fiscal year 2010/2011, ThyssenKrupp employs 180,000 in more than 80 countries around the world. ThyssenKrupp’s North America companies offer a range of products including premium carbon steel; automotive components; elevators, escalators, passenger boarding bridges; material trading, plant construction and industrial services.

In fiscal year 2010/2011, ThyssenKrupp North America subsidiaries employed approximately 24,600 and recorded sales of nearly $12 billion in North America. The company employs nearly 1,400 in Illinois.

“With a strong presence in 42 of the 50 U.S. states, as well as in Canada and Mexico, North America is our most important foreign market. The close proximity to key customers, including heavy equipment manufacturers in Illinois and major auto companies in Michigan; the world-class business schools and talented workforce– all these factors make Chicago the ideal home base for our continued strategic growth in the region,” said Torsten Gessner, Chairman and CEO for ThyssenKrupp North America.  “I thank Mayor Emanuel and his team for welcoming ThyssenKrupp to Chicago. Both the Mayor and World Business Chicago made a very compelling case for a dynamic and vibrant world-class city we will be proud to call home.” 

Since taking office in May 2011, Mayor Emanuel has made over 20 new jobs announcements for the City of Chicago, totaling more than 13,000 jobs. This is the first North American headquarters he has announced for an international firm.

ThyssenKrupp is currently looking to find office space in the downtown area prior to opening its offices in summer 2012.  The company will be recruiting top talent as it expands the Regional Headquarters, and intends to hold a product show in Chicago in the fall to showcase products and services in North America.

ThyssenKrupp received no incentives in exchange for the creation of the North American headquarters or the jobs.

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