Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler
Maria-Elisabeth- Schaeffler (born 17 August 1941 in Prague[1]) is one of the owners of Schaeffler Group, one of the world's largest producers of rolling bearings.[2] The other owner is her son Georg F. W. Schaeffler.
Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, and grew up in Vienna, Austria. In 1963 she married Georg Schaeffler, and moved to Herzogenaurach in Franconia, which is located within Bavaria. It was through Schaeffler's marriage that she would come to work for Schaeffler Group AG. In 1996 Georg died, and she took the reins of the family business.[3]
It has been Maria-Elizabeth Schaeffler's legacy to continue with her husband's life's work, growing the family business, Schaeffler Group AG. Since 1996 Schaeffler has led her company through multiple lucrative acquisitions, including: INA, LUK, and FAG. These three companies in particular are large brand name corporations in making rolling bearings. These three acquisitions have made Schaeffler Group AG one of the largest producers of rolling bearings and linear motion products in the World.[4]
In 1999 Maria-Elizabeth Schaeffler led the acquisition of LUK, a clutch manufacturer, obtaining all of the shares of the company for Schaeffler Group AG. In 2001 she led the acquisition of FAG Kugelfischer Georg Schäfer AG Schweinfurt, with the acquisitions of FAG and INA, Schaeffler Group AG had become the second largest producer of rolling bearings in the World. In 2009 Schaeffler Group purchased a significant share of the company Continental AG.[5]
Since 1996 Schaeffler Group AG has seen an increase in annual turnover and employment. By 2013 the annual turnover reached approximately 10 billion Euros, and the employment tripled to over 70,000 employees, an impressive mark for a completely privately owned company. [6]
Awards and Accolades
Schaeffler has been given many awards and accolades. In 2001 she was awarded the Cross of Merit with Ribbon of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Medal of Honor by the Nuremberg Chamber of Commerce for the Mid-Franconian region. In 2002 Schaeffler was named an Honorary citizen of the town of Höchstadt/Aisch. In 2003 she was awarded the Bavarian Order of Merit. In 2004 Schaeffler was recognized and awarded for the "Family Entrepreneur of the Year" award " presented by the economics magazine "impulse" and the "INTES Akademie für Familienunternehmen" (INTES Academy for Family-Owned Companies). In 2005 she was given the Honorary Member of the Senate of the Transylvania University of Brasov, Romanian Honorary citizen of the town of Jeonju, Jeollabuk-Do province, Korea Entry in the "Golden Book" of the town of Lahr. In 2006 Schaeffler received the Honorary citizen of the town of Herzogenaurach Entry in the "Golden Book" of the Erlangen-Höchstadt district. In 2007 she was awarded the very prestigious Large Silver Medal with Star for Services to the Republic of Austria 1st Class Cross of Merit of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Karmarsch Medal. In 2011 Schaeffler was awarded the highly lauded "Großen Tiroler Adler" medal[7] and the "Personality of the Year" award presented by the ÖkoGlobe-Institut of Duisburg-Essen University. In 2012 she was presented with the "Gold medal of the District" for the Erlangen-Höchstadt district. In 2013 Schaeffler was awarded the "Family Entrepreneur of the Year award, 2012", selected by a jury of representatives of German industry and the Handelsblatt.[8][9]
References
- ↑ "Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler" (in German). Wirtschafts Woche. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
- ↑ Joseph, Ugesh A. (28 January 2014). The 'Made in Germany' Champion Brands: Nation Branding, Innovation and World Export Leadership. Gower Publishing, Ltd. pp. 142–. ISBN 978-1-4094-6648-2.
- ↑ Press Releases: Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler receives „Großer Tiroler Adler” medal from the state of Tyrol; Schaeffler AG; October 25, 2011
- ↑ Owners: Maria-Elizabeth Schaeffler; Schaeffler AG; 2014
- ↑ Press Releases: Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler named Family Business Woman of the Year; Schaeffler AG; January 7, 2013
- ↑ Press Releases: Bavarian Order of Merit for Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler; Schaeffler AG; July 17, 2003
- ↑ "Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler receives „Großer Tiroler Adler" medal from the state of Tyrol". Schaeffler. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
- ↑ "The World's Billionaires: #201 Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler". Forbes. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
- ↑ Press Releases: Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler receives ÖkoGlobe 2011 award for Personality of the Year; Schaeffler AG; September 12, 2011
- Press Releases: Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler receives the Karmarsch Medal from the Association of Friends of Hanover University; Schaeffler AG; December 3, 2007
- Press Releases: Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler is awarded the Cross of Merit, 1st Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for special services to the nation; Schaeffler AG; October 5, 2007
- Press Releases: DR. GÜNTHER BECKSTEIN, BAVARIA'S STATE MINISTER, PRAISES THE ENTREPRENEURIAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT OF THE BUSINESSWOMAN FROM HERZOGENAURACH Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler Receives German Verdienstkreuz; Schaeffler AG; May 3, 2001