After nearly two decades as Technical and Environmental Director, Jan Niewodniczanski is leaving the management of the Bitburger Braugruppe. The 60-year-old shareholder, who had taken a sabbatical earlier this year and was expected to return at the end of September, will not resume his operational duties. The company cited “differing views on the strategic direction of the group” as a key reason for his departure.
Niewodniczanski, who represents the seventh generation of the founding family, joined Bitburger in 2006 after holding leading positions at South African Breweries. He holds degrees in brewing and beverage technology from the Technical University of Munich in Weihenstephan and an MBA from the University of Cape Town. His work in the company, particularly in technical innovation and sustainability, was praised as highly valuable.
His responsibilities will continue to be shared among the remaining managing directors Dr. Stefan Schmitz (Human Resources and Legal), Markus Spanier (Finance, IT, and Procurement), and Sebastian Holtz (Sales and Marketing). Niewodniczanski will, however, remain active as a shareholder and is expected to contribute his expertise in supervisory or advisory roles within the group.
The move also marks a broader generational and strategic shift within Bitburger Holding. According to Inside Getränke, his brother Matthäus Niewodniczanski, who holds a 5.17% stake had already allowed his contract as managing director of Bitburger Holding to expire about a year earlier; consequently, no representative of the 41-member shareholder circle is currently involved in operational management.
The company emphasized that the family’s role as shareholders and strategic advisors remains unchanged and continues to be central to Bitburger’s long-term orientation.
