VAUDE - 100 percent family-owned business
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Vaude as employer
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Antje von Dewitz at the top
Founding family in the Board of Partners
VAUDE is 100 percent a family-owned company. The Board of Partners consists of the founding family of Dewitz:
- Martina von Dewitz (12 percent share and votes)
- Kerstin Sausen, née von Dewitz (12 percent share and votes)
- Albrecht von Dewitz, company founder (30 percent share and votes)
- Antje von Dewitz, CEO of VAUDE (46 percent share and votes)
The Board of Partners is the supreme controlling body for VAUDE Sport GmbH & Co.KG. There is a general meeting at least once annually. The Board of Partners discusses and makes decisions on the following issues:
- discharge of the management
- approval of annual financial statements
- appropriation of surplus
- confirmation of auditors
| GRI: | G4-34 |
Report the governance structure of the organization, including committees of the highest governance body.
Identify any committees responsible for decision-making on economic, environmental and social impacts.
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Albrecht von Dewitz as advisor
As part of the generation change in company ownership, VAUDE founder Albrecht von Dewitz assumed an advisory role with no formal control. He accompanies the Executive Board and represents the Board of Partners in major strategic decisions, such as in construction projects, outsourcing or appeals to the Executive Board.
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Albrecht von Dewitz
Albrecht von Dewitz Albrecht von Dewitz founded VAUDE in 1974 and passed the company on to his daughter Antje von Dewitz in 2009. |
Executive Board spans company divisions
The Executive Board consists of CEO, Antje von Dewitz, and two authorized signatories, Prokurists: Chief Sales Office and Head of Sustainability, Jan Lorch and Chief Financial Officer, Erwin Gutensohn. As of 2014, the division of product development and implementation is also represented on the Executive Board through Peter Sontheimer, Head of Product Development.
In the Management Meeting, all primary strategic issues are discussed, and decisions are made on key issues, for example, such as issues of risk management, alignment of company divisions, financing and sustainability strategies. Economic decisions, such as budget releases and calculation requirements, are also under the responsibility of the management.
Four levels of hierarchy in the management
The management structure at VAUDE consists of four hierarchical levels:
- CEO with Executive Board
- Divisional Heads
- Department Heads
- Team Leaders
Seven Divisions, Seven Divisional Heads
The company is divided into seven areas:
- Sales
- Finance
- Marketing
- IT (Information technology)
- Logistics
- Personal und Organization
- Product development and implementation
In 2013, of the six divisional heads, two were authorized signatories and members of management. One divisional head post was satisfied by the CEO Antje von Dewitz in personal union. The sales manager Jan Lorch is both Head of Sustainability / CSR in personal union. The Environmental Management Representative Hilke Patzwall reports to him.
Directly under the Executive Board are the administrative departments, Company Development, Quality Management Specialist and Controlling. Thus, three members of the CSR teams answer directly to the Board - see also "CSR team as a driving force for sustainability".
Board of Division Heads as a forum for decision making
On a Board of Division Heads, all divisional managers are represented. Here questions on organizational and operational issues in the company are addressed, especially in the area of personnel and organization, such as job security, job descriptions and salary system.
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