Business · Companies · 12 hrs ago
Cofra appoints Georg Wunderlin as first CEO from outside the Brenninkmeijer family
Georg Wunderlin will become CEO of Cofra in April, taking over from Boudewijn Beerkens, who is retiring after eight years.
Cofra is a Swiss holding company based in Zug that manages investments for the Brenninkmeijer family, which owns the C&A fashion chain.
Wunderlin will be the first CEO without family ties; he previously led Schroders Capital, which invests in companies and property.
The family has also named Florian Brenninkmeijer, from its sixth generation, as the next chair of Cofra’s board.
Cofra is shifting toward an investment company that can take money from outside partners as well as the family.
The family hopes this will bring greater scale and spread its investments beyond fashion, while Wunderlin is expected to drive growth.
Cofra has appointed Georg Wunderlin as its first chief executive from outside the Brenninkmeijer family.
Wunderlin is due to take up the role in April 2027, succeeding Boudewijn Beerkens, who is retiring.
He will also join Cofra’s board of directors.
The Switzerland-based holding company wants to expand its investment businesses and attract more capital from external investors.
Cofra owns investment businesses focused on private equity, real estate and asset management, as well as the C&A retail chain.
- Who
- Georg Wunderlin, formerly head of Schroders Capital, will become Cofra’s CEO.
- What
- Cofra appointed him as its first CEO from outside the Brenninkmeijer family.
- When
- He is due to take up the role in April 2027.
- Where
- Cofra is based in Zug, Switzerland.
- Why
- He is expected to help drive Cofra’s investment business and strategic development.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Cofra announced that Florian Brenninkmeyer would become chairman of its board of directors.
Cofra announced Wunderlin’s appointment as CEO.
Wunderlin is due to take over as CEO and join Cofra’s board.
- Incoming CEO
- Georg Wunderlin
- Outgoing CEO
- Boudewijn Beerkens
- Start date
- April 2027
- Headquarters
- Zug, Switzerland
- Investment assets
- More than 40 billion euros managed by Cofra’s investment companies
- Former employer
- Schroders Capital
4 sources
Zesde generatie Brenninkmeijers neemt roer over van imperium achter C&A-concern
Die Familie hinter C&A ordnet ihr Milliardenreich neu – und lässt einen Aussenseiter das Vermögen verwalten
Brenninkmeijer-Familie macht Private-Markets-Schwergewicht zum CEO
Einzelhandel: C&A-Holding Cofra bekommt ersten familienfremden Chef
What people are saying
Investors are increasingly pooling their capital with the largest platforms and highly specialised providers
own capital, a long-term perspective and the ambition to act as a positive force in the world
He brings exactly the right combination of leadership skills, investment experience, ambition and humility to continue the course we have set
an ideal appointment