Interview with Jörg Rottmann
Jörg Rottmann is a former shareholder of our subsidiary Rottmann GmbH.
You took over the business from your father. How did that go?
I’ve been working in our family business since January 1, 2003. In the beginning, my father and I divided up the responsibilities. He took care of the internal operations, and I handled the day-to-day work on the construction sites. Gradually, I took on more and more of his responsibilities. In 2006, my father fully withdrew from management.
What led you to decide to sell?
Honestly, I had no intention of selling my business at such a young age. In early 2023, I received a letter from you that initially looked like one of the usual purchase inquiries. But it was very personally addressed to me and not a standard form letter, which made it stand out—so it didn’t just end up in the pile.
I started to consider what advantages a merger with Greenovis could bring for me and the business. Topics like occupational safety and especially employee recruitment are hardly manageable on our own at our company’s size in the future.
Other considerations included questions like: What challenges will the company face in the coming years? What will happen when I’m in my early 60s or older? Who will take over the business? One thing is already clear—my children won’t be taking over management in the future. That’s when I realized: this is a great opportunity to make the business future-proof.
What happened next?
The first conversations I had were with your colleague from the M&A department. When things got more serious, Hendrik Hucke (Managing Director of the Greenovis Group) joined the talks. By autumn, we agreed: we’re going to take this path. We gathered all the necessary information until January of the following year, and by the end of March, all contracts were signed. After that, we immediately started the onboarding process.
Was there anything that worried you about the sale?
I wasn’t worried. In fact, the sale actually took away my biggest concerns. For example, I now know that if I can’t work for any reason, the business will continue and my employees will be taken care of. I no longer have to face challenges on my own—I now have a group that’s got my back and tackles those challenges together with me.
ChatGPT fragen
"Being part of the Greenovis Group makes my company future-proof. With this backing, we can fully concentrate on our core competencies."
Jörg Rottmann
How did your employees react to the sale?
We held a meeting and informed all employees about the sale. At first, some colleagues were uncertain and had questions. Hendrik came to our location on short notice and explained again what the group is about, what goals Greenovis is pursuing, and answered the remaining open questions.
Was there anything that surprised you after the sale?
I was amazed at how quickly and systematically the umbrella organization picks up on new topics and implements them. It really brought a new dynamic into our operations. 😉
What’s next for you within the company?
I’m staying on board as managing director. I have to admit, I’m actually enjoying the role more again. It’s a relief to know that the future of the company is secured and that I no longer have to shoulder everything alone. I really appreciate being able to exchange ideas and offer mutual support with the other companies in the group.
Do you have any final advice for owners considering selling their business?
I wouldn’t call it advice, just a note: You should be aware that a sale like this takes time — and you can’t just retire the next day. At least not if you want your business to be handed over properly and continue running successfully.
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