State Medal for Jobst Wagner

On 23rd April, Bavarian State Minister for Economic Affairs, Energy and Technology Franz Josef Pschierer awarded REHAU group president Jobst Wagner the State Medal for special services to the Bavarian economy.

As part of a ceremony in the Ludwig Erhard Hall at the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs in Munich, Franz Josef Pschierer honoured 16 entrepreneurs from all over Bavaria for their commitment and exemplary entrepreneurial activities with the highest personal distinction that the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs can award.

In Bavaria alone, polymer specialist REHAU employs around 6,500 of the roughly 20,000 staff worldwide. The family company was founded by Helmut Wagner in 1948 in the Upper Franconian town of Rehau; since 2000, in the capacity of president, Jobst Wagner, son of Helmut Wagner, has led the supervisory board of the company group of which the turnover last year amounted to over 3.5 billion euros.

Furthermore, state minister Pschierer acknowledged the commitment of Jobst Wagner for his special contribution to the positive economic development of the region of Upper Franconia and for his voluntary and social commitment.

As such, in 2003 Wagner founded the Upper Franconia business initiative, to strengthen the economic location. In addition, the busy company boss has been a member of the advisory board of the research centre for family businesses at the University of Bayreuth since 2011 and a member of the board of trustees since 2013.

Also, Wagner's heart belongs to art. The entrepreneur is the founder of REHAU ART, a communication centre for dialogue, art and history based in Rehau. He also started the associated art gallery, in which works by contemporary artist Franz Gertsch are exhibited. As a supporter of cultural life, such as the Luisenburg festival in Wunsiedel, REHAU plays an important role.