ERWO Holding AG & Hoftex Group AG have appointed Manuela Sperle as new CEO, replacing Klaus Steger with effect from March 2024.

On February 28, 2024, ERWO Holding AG and Hoftex Group AG announced the appointment of Manuela Spörl (51) as the new CEO effective March 1, 2024. She will replace Klaus Steger, who plans to retire after reaching the age of 65 in accordance with internal company policies. He will focus on his responsibilities at the International Wool Textile Organization, where he was elected President in May 2023.

Manuela Spörl has a degree in Business Administration and has been with the Hoftex Group since 2000. In the past, she has held positions such as Management Board Consultant and Chief Financial Officer at Hoftex Group and ERWO Holding.

The company has also made changes in the position of Chief Financial Officer. Manuela Spörl will hand over her duties to Daniel Köster (44), who previously worked as CFO at another company, Stiebel Eltron.

Klaus Steger played a key role in the development of the company during his tenure, which spanned some 40 years. He made a number of strategically important decisions, such as opening new plants in Germany and Europe, expanding the business in China and Vietnam, acquiring Textilgruppe Hof, and expanding the business in technical textiles through the acquisition of the Italian companies SAFIL and GTI. Under his leadership, the company grew to 4,000 employees and sales totaled 665 million euros in 2022.

Manuela Spörl thanked Klaus Steger for his many years of work and the important goals he has set for the company. She expressed her wishes for success and good luck in his future projects.