Hermann Lohbeck, Speaker of the CLAAS Group Executive Board and Cathrina Claas-Mühlhäuser congratulated Lothar Kriszun (middle) on the honor.

In 2003, Lothar Kriszun played a major role in the acquisition of Renault Agriculture and modernized the sales and later the development and production structure of the company. In 2011, he took over the management of the business unit and became the President of CLAAS Tractor with more than 1,000 employees, as well as the GIMA joint venture in Beauvais. Since October 2014, he additionally worked as Speaker of the CLAAS Group Executive Board before retiring in October 2017.

As a France-aficionado, he always campaigned for foreign investments in France and repeatedly emphasized in interviews that he “enjoys working in France”. With the Order of Merit, France has honoured Kriszun's illustrious career and his, as well as CLAAS', commitment to French agriculture and the development of agricultural engineering in France.

The order was donated in 1883 in order to honor merits in agriculture. It is mostly awarded to French citizens and only rarely to foreigners with extraordinary achievements in agriculture and food production. The order is awarded by resolution of the Minister of Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.