The entrepreneurial generation
In 2011, the present-day Wilo Group was transferred into a family foundation in its fourth generation by Dr.-Ing. E. h. Jochen Opländer together with his children Claudia Nüsslein, Jan Opländer and Felix Opländer (†).
For more than 150 years, Wilo has developed technical solutions for applications in building services and water technology. This commitment defines the values and tradition of the Opländer family and continues to shape their work as engineers and entrepreneurs – taking one step further each day to find technical solutions for future challenges.
Inventive spirit in the fifth entrepreneurial generation
In 2019, the Opländer family transferred entrepreneurial responsibility to Oliver Hermes. Since then, he has continued the development of the Wilo Group in the fifth entrepreneurial generation; as President & Global CEO of the Wilo Group, he represents the fifth entrepreneurial generation.
Caspar Ludwig Opländer - The Founder
Caspar Ludwig Opländer was 27 years old when he founded the “Louis Opländer Copper and Brass Goods Factory” in Dortmund in 1872, thereby laying the foundation for today’s Wilo Group. He led the company to its first successes until his death in 1891 at the age of only 46.
Louis Opländer - The Producer
Louis Opländer was born in 1873 as the first son of Caspar Ludwig and Wilhelmine Opländer. After his father’s early death, he had to take over the business at the age of 18 together with his mother. He managed the company until 1928, but remained involved in the business afterwards. Louis Opländer died in 1962.
Wilhelm Opländer - The Humanist
Wilhelm Opländer was born in 1901. At the age of 25, he joined his father’s company and soon assumed management responsibility, which he later passed on to his son Jochen. Wilhelm Opländer died in 1984.
Dr.-Ing. E.h. Jochen Opländer - The Cosmopolitan
Dr.-Ing. E. h. Jochen Opländer was born in 1931 and joined Wilo’s management in 1963. From 1969 onwards, he was the sole owner of the company. As Managing Director and member of the Executive Board, and later as Chairman of the Supervisory Board (today Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board), he helped shape and influence the growth, internationalization, and technological development of today’s Wilo Group over several decades.
Oliver Hermes - Shaping the future
Born in 1970, Oliver Hermes was a partner at the auditing and advisory firm KPMG before joining Wilo in 2006 as a member of the Executive Board. He is President & Global CEO of the Wilo Group. In 2018, Dr.-Ing. E. h. Jochen Opländer appointed him as his entrepreneurial successor. In 2019, he also assumed the chairmanship of the Board of Trustees of the Wilo Foundation.
