J.W. Ostendorf Announces Appointments

J.W. Ostendorf (JWO) has integrated the third generation of the owning family into its management. Jan Ostendorf has been appointed managing director sales and marketing at JWO’s headquarters in Coesfeld Westphalia. Jens Ostendorf has been named CEO of JWO Group company Renaulac. Renaulac is a subsidiary of the JWO Group which produces and distributes paints for the French and European DIY market in Cestas near Bordeaux.

“This step sees us clearly underline J.W. Ostendorf’s philosophy as a family business. On this basis, we can continue to push J.W. Ostendorf’s development on the European market with great impetus and look forward to continuing the successful 66-year history of our group of companies into what is now the third generation”, as Michael Ostendorf, Chairman and CEO of the JWO Group emphasizes. Leonhard Ritzhaupt, currently Managing Director Sales and Marketing successfully prepared the reorientation in management and will be leaving the company as planned at the end of May 2015 to take on new vocational challenges. Bernd Hopf will be leaving the JWO management on 31st December 2014, but will continue to contribute his expertise to the company to ensure the growth strategy of JWO.. Also, the former CEO of Renaulac, George Adams, who worked for Kingfisher for 16 years and was CEO of Maxeda, will already be leaving the company at the end of 2014 after successfully integrating the sons into overall management of the enterprise; he will continue to act as a consultant to the JWO Group. Against the backdrop of management reorientation, Marc-Ulrich Meier left JWO at the end of November 2014. “We would like to thank all members of the management board for their contributions to management in our enterprise”, said Michael Ostendorf.

J.W. Ostendorf is looking to boost sales with new executives from within the company: Burkhard Kaup, the previous Head of Industrial Division, will additionally be assuming sales responsibility as National Manager for the DACH region. Frank Hannig, the previous Head of Sales Scandinavia, will assume further responsibility as National Manager UK and Scandinavia.  Malte Meyer, the previous Head of Product Management, will additionally be taking over responsibility for Marketing.

“All three executives are acknowledged experts for our company’s target markets. We are certain that we will be able to align our activities even more closely with our customers’ needs with this line-up”, said Jan Ostendorf. “In both Germany and France, and in the other European countries – Renaulac and J.W. Ostendorf stand for innovation, quality and dependability. And we will continue to build on these strengths”, Jens Ostendorf added.