Günther Fielmann

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Günther Fielmann
Born (1939-09-17) September 17, 1939
Stafstedt, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Nationality German
Occupation Chief Executive Officer
Employer Fielmann
Salary €3.358M Euro (2010)[1]
Children 2

Günther Fielmann is the founder, major shareholder and chief executive officer of Fielmann AG.

Life

1972 the state-approved optometrist opened his first shop in Cuxhaven. In 1981 he revolutionised the German spectacle market by offering 90 fashionable frames for the allowance of the statutory health insurance funds (initial tariff). Because previously only 6 models were available in exchange for the insurance allowance, Fielmann thus removed the social stigma of having to wear glasses. This liberalisation, favourable media coverage ("Robin Hood of spectacle wearers"[2]) and aggressive marketing allowed his business to grow rapidly. In 1982 a new shop was opened in Kiel offering more than 7,000 frames to choose from. In 1994 the Fielmann KG was transformed into Fielmann AG and went public.

2002 Günther Fielmann bought Plön Castle from the state of Schleswig-Holstein and had it renovated extensively. Since 2003 he trains his optometrists in the castle. From 2005/2006 onwards Bachelor and Master degrees in optometry are being offered in cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences Lübeck.

Fielmann has two children with Heike Fielmann whom he divorced.[3] His son, Marc Fielmann, is said to take over the company one day.[4][5]

Other activities

For each of his employees Fielmann plants a tree every year. In May 2009 he planted the one-millionth tree with chancellor Angela Merkel and minister president Peter Harry Carstensen.[6]

Günther Fielmann is also a passionate organic farmer. He owns the roughly 1,600 hectares large manor Schierensee, the 470 hectares large manor Marutendorf in Achterwehr, the 180 hectares large farm Möglin in Krummwisch and a farm in Lütjensee. The organic products of his farms he sells under the brand Hof Lütjensee.

Awards

In 2000 Fielmann received the Federal Cross of Merit First Class from the state of Schleswig-Holstein. Two years later (2002) the state also bestowed the title of a professor (honoris causis) upon him. In 2003 he received the renowned "Deutscher Gründerpreis" (Prize for German Founders). The agricultural and nutrition sciences department of the University of Kiel awarded him an honorary doctorate in December 2004. In 2011 Fielmann was accepted into the Hall of Fame of the manager magazin.

External links

References

  1. ↑ Executive Profile: Günther Fielmann, Bloomberg Businessweek, retrieved 2011-09-04 
  2. ↑ "Günther Fielmann wird König der Bebrillten". Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). 2009-09-16. Retrieved 2011-08-04. 
  3. ↑ "Günther Fielmann: Kämpfer gegen die Sozialprothese". F.A.Z.net (in German). 2009-09-28. Retrieved 2011-08-04. 
  4. ↑ "Guenther Fielmann". Forbes (in eng). March 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-06. 
  5. ↑ "Die Plaene der Fielmanns: Vater-Sohn-Gipfel im Abendblatt". Melanie Wassink (in German). Hamburger Abendblatt. 2012-07-06. Retrieved 2012-07-06. 
  6. ↑ Angela Merkels Stippvisite beim Brillenkönig 20. Mai 2009
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