Germany based perfume manufacturer Mäurer & Wirtz have announced a new managing director. On January 1, 2009, Johannes Verhoog became the head of the family-owned company that was founded in 1845. His predecessor, Bert Lehnen, stepped down after more than 40 years with the company. He will remain available as a consultant for brand and corporate strategies. Verhoog will lead Mäurer & Wirtz jointly with managing partner Dr. Hermann Wirtz. “We are very glad to have won such an internationally experienced managing director in Johannes Verhoog. I am convinced he will continue our company’s history of success,” Dr. Hermann Wirtz states. “My thanks go to Bert Lehnen, whose decades of service showed great personal commitment and dedication. He had a major impact on the success story of Mäurer & Wirtz, especially in his nine years as managing director. Under his guidance, Mäurer & Wirtz has developed a strong product portfolio and delivered excellent performance. Since 1999, sales have doubled and earnings have increased six fold.” Johannes Verhoog has acquired extensive experience in the field of fragrance and other fast moving consumer products in international leadership positions at Procter & Gamble, Reckitt Benckiser and privately owned companies. Most recently he successfully restructured a family-owned business and served as a management consultant at Altran. “The company culture, employees and product portfolio at Mäurer & Wirtz have inspired me from the very outset,” says Verhoog. “My objective is to keep the company on its successful path of profitable growth. Strategically, this means we will drive the dynamic internationalization of our brands. We also want to strengthen our position in the market of prestige fragrances by adding other attractive trend labels to our portfolio.” Mäurer & Wirtz was founded in 1845 and is now in its fifth generation of family management. The former soap manufacturer founded by Michael Mäurer and his stepson Andreas Wirtz over 160 years ago has since grown to become a global player. The Germany based company is active in 140 markets and has some 390 employees. The company generated sales of €130 million in 2008 and specializes in creating outstanding perfumes and body care products such as its classic fragrances 4711 and Tabac Original as well as licensing brands like Betty Barclay and s. Oliver.
