Page 68 - TFWA World Exhibit 2024 Special Edition

INSIDER

Waldemar Behn prepares fifth generation to assume management

When Waldemar Behn died in 2023, it
was devastating for his family, friends, and
all who knew him. But his brother Rüdiger
Behn tells TMI that the German company
that bears his brother’s name is well set up
for the future and his passing only sped up
the transition to the next generation to lead
the family-run company.
“Waldemar, my brother, carried
the name of the company and he started
working actively in the company two
years before I joined him. For almost 40
years we worked together and have grown
the companies. He has been responsible
for our beverage wholesale branch Behn
Getränke; on the day-to-day level. I took
care of the production and branding of
our spirits. Strategic questions had to be
answered commonly which has never
been a problem. Waldemar’s death created
an emotional thunderstorm for all our Left to right: Jens Kundrun, Asmus Behn, Rudiger Behn, Lisa Behn, Philipp Fellman.
employees as well as for our regional
customers and stakeholders. He had an
enormous regional network and was highly impacted badly. Jens is a very dedicated insights into the company’s processes,
liked by everybody. Of course, he left a managing director and the fifth generation, and experience the values they have
huge gap as he has been managing director my niece Lisa and my son Asmus, will learned and how to act with a “handshake
of both companies,” he tells TMI. take over beginning of 2026,” says Rüdiger mentality” in practice.
“Waldemar’s death has not changed Behn. “Lisa and Asmus had already
any of our companies’ plans. We will The Behn brothers, Waldemar and decided to take over a couple of years
continue our business as we have planned Rüdiger, had the foresight to prepare for ago. Waldemar’s death has not changed
it. This is Waldemar’s wish and there is no the transition from the fourth to the fifth their plan in general, Lisa just joined
reason not to do so.” generation. At the beginning of 2024 it was the company four months earlier than
With his death, the day-to-day work announced that Lisa and Asmus Behn were originally planned,” Rudiger tells TMI.
was taken over by Jens Kundrun who officially joining WALDEMAR BEHN “Right now, both are in the middle of
has been co-managing director in Behn- GmbH and BEHN Getränke GmbH. their trainee-program which will last until
Getränke for a couple of years. Lisa and Asmus are currently going end of June 2025. They take over a new
“Although his death has been by far through a comprehensive trainee program, job more or less every week by joining
too early the future of the company is not which will provide both of them with deep all departments in all companies just to

Asmus Behn and Lisa Behn are the
fifth genreation to run Waldemar
Behn.

October 2024 68