Jürgen Lewandowski, journalist and author (who also held the laudatory speech for the Schaeffler family), Georg F. W. Schaeffler, Family Shareholder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Andrej Kupetz, CEO of the German Design Council, and presenter Julia Bauer (from left).

The two family shareholders of the Schaeffler Group, Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler-Thumann and Georg F. W. Schaeffler, were presented with the German Design Council’s renowned Brand Manager of the Year Award on Tuesday evening as part of the Automotive Brand Contest in the magnificent banqueting hall of the Gesellschaftshauses at the Palmengarten in Frankfurt. The award honored the corporate and brand development through dedicated entrepreneurship, innovative products, the acquisition of companies, and global expansion.

The award citation was read by the well-known motor and automotive journalist Jürgen Lewandowski, who honored the life long work of mother and son in a very personal speech. Family Shareholder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board Georg F. W. Schaeffler accepted the award with thanks and particularly emphasized the achievements of his father, his uncle, and his mother in the development of the company.

“A strong brand creates trust”

“We would like to express our thanks for this prestigious award and accept it on behalf of the entire Schaeffler company family with its 90,000 members. A strong brand represents the quality of the products and services, serves to enhance identity for employees, and creates trust with business partners – also through the associated immaterial values”, said Georg F. W. Schaeffler at the presentation of the award in Frankfurt.