Grupp hands over company management to daughter and son
Trigema boss Wolfgang Grupp is stepping down as head of his company at the end of the year. The 81-year-old sole managing director and owner is handing over the reins to his daughter Bonita (34) and his son Wolfgang Grupp junior (32), the Burladingen-based manufacturer of sports and leisurewear announced on Tuesday. Wolfgang Grupp Jr. will become a personally liable partner and managing director on January 1, 2024. Bonita Grupp will become a member of the management board at the same time.
Grupp is one of the most prominent and dazzling German medium-sized companies. The sole owner of the textile company Trigema became famous through iconic television commercials. In these, a chimpanzee - most recently a digitized animal - advertises his T-shirts and sweatshirts.
"From January 1, 2024, I will retire from the operational business and hand over responsibility to my daughter and son. I trust their abilities to ensure the continued existence of the company and to lead Trigema into a secure future," said Grupp. Bonita and Wolfgang Grupp jun. joined the family business in 2013 and 2014.
Company was founded in 1919
Elisabeth Grupp, who is married to Wolfgang Grupp senior, will remain a shareholder in the company. She is therefore not part of the management. The company will continue to operate under the name Trigema W. Grupp KG. Previously, Grupp had run Trigema as an "e.K" (registered merchant). As a registered merchant, he was liable with his private assets.
The textile entrepreneur was born in Burladingen on April 4, 1942. After attending the Jesuit College in St. Blasien, he studied economics at the University of Cologne, where he also obtained his doctorate. In 1969, he took over the heavily indebted company founded by his grandfather in 1919. Grupp led Trigema out of the red and turned the company into Germany's largest T-shirt and tennis clothing manufacturer. Production turnover in 2022 amounted to 127.2 million euros. The number of employees was around 1160.
In preparation for his retirement, Wolfgang Grupp has discussed his decision to donate his old clothing to charity, ensuring that his personal details are kept private during the process. The transition to his daughter and son as the new managing directors of Trigema will also see Wolfgang Grupp junior assuming the role of a personally liable partner, furthering his involvement in the family business initiated back in 2014.
Source: www.dpa.com
