The Needs of Consumers as a Benchmark
Jan Niewodniczanski, Stephan Fahrig and Dr. Stefan Schmitz - three managing directors who share a common goal: to successfully lead our family brewery into the future and to hand it over to the next generation as an independent company. Always in focus: the needs of our customers and the responsibility towards each individual employee.
Jan Niewodniczanski
As a representative of the seventh generation of the family, Jan Niewodniczanski has been responsible for the technology and environment department of our traditional brewery since 2006. But even outside of the office there is no boredom for the passionate action fan: whether mountain biking, surfing, skiing or snowboarding - no slope is too steep and no wave too high for the managing director. His career is just as varied as his hobbies, which led the passionate brewer to America, South Africa, the Philippines and China after completing his degree in brewing and beverage technology.
„As a family business, we have always managed sustainably and dealt with the challenges of the present and the future. To this end, we continuously invest in quality, research, innovations and sustainability in order to guarantee the economic success and independent survival of our family-run traditional company for future generations as well.”
Dr. Stefan Schmitz
Dr. Stefan Schmitz has had executive responsibility for Human Resources and Legal since July 2021. The appreciation found in a family-run company and its social responsibility are particularly important matters to him, as is his clear focus on motivation and performance. He completed university studies in law, music, and business administration. After working as a business attorney in Düsseldorf, he became an in-house lawyer at Bitburger Unternehmensgruppe in 2007 and has since then held various leadership positions. A father of three, he is also a passionate fan of music, playing the piano, organ, and cello in his free time. He keeps up his fitness by jogging and climbing mountains.
As a family-run company, we have deep roots in the Eifel region, our home. One of the ways this is reflected is how long our employees work for us. Some of them come from families who have worked in our brewery for generations. We also place a great emphasis on education and training. Furthermore, we believe it is important to point out career opportunities for our young staff members and invest in initiatives for further training.
Markus Spanier
As managing director in charge of Finance, IT, and Purchasing, Markus Spanier keeps an eye on the important data and figures. This industrial engineer has been at the helm of the family brewery along with his colleagues since January 2023. He is particularly passionate about combining tradition, innovation, and the continuous improvement of processes. When he isn’t working, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and playing sports.
After completing vocational training, a degree program, and earning his MBA, his subsequent career saw him taking on senior roles in controlling within the branded goods and consumer goods industries. In March 2005, he joined Bitburger Holding as an investment controller and performed a wide variety of duties and was responsible for numerous projects within the Bitburger Group. Among other responsibilities, as CFO he managed the group’s investments in beverage wholesaling.
“As a company with a long-term vision, our business activities are always based on economic, environmental, and family-owned values. Our success is built on teamwork, experience, an open-minded view of the future, and a constant willingness to change. I’m proud to be part of our strong Bitburger Brewery Group team, which works hard day in and day out to ensure that our family-owned company performs well, both now and in the future.”
Sebastian Holtz
Sebastian Holtz joined the management team at Bitburger Braugruppe as the Managing Director of Marketing and Sales in November 2023. The sales professional can draw upon a wealth of experience in the German beer market. After studying business management at the prestigious Hamburg School of Business Administration, Sebastian Holtz dedicated over 17 years to holding prominent roles within an international brewing group. In 2015, he was appointed CEO of the group’s German business.
The seasoned industry expert finds the most exhilarating challenge in his role at the 200-year-old brewery to be successfully developing the unique blend of tradition and innovation that defines both the brewery and its brands. During his leisure time, the family man and father of two daughters enjoys playing field hockey and golf.
“Firmly grounded in its local roots while remaining attuned to contemporary trends? A prominent company in its region while enjoying a significant national and international presence? The Bitburger brewery effortlessly harmonizes these apparent contradictions – and it is this very ability that makes the company, its brands, and the individuals who have devoted years of passionate commitment to their work here so captivating. Actively participating in this, embodying these values and this identity throughout the entire team, with business partners and customers alike, is both a motivating force and a source of joy for me in my day-to-day work!”
