Michael Stoschek is turning 70

Michael Stoschek, Chairman of the Brose Group, will celebrate his 70th birthday on 11 December with his closest family members. Born in Coburg, the grandson of founder Max Brose took over the helm of the metal works company in 1971 and developed it into a global manufacturer of mechatronic components and systems for vehicle doors and seats as well as electric drives and electronics. He initiated the family-owned company’s internationalization process: under his leadership Brose expanded to 19 countries in three and a half decades as turnover steadily rose nearly hundredfold. Since 2006, Michael Stoschek has represented the interests of the owner family in the company.

After graduating from Gymnasium Casimirianum in Coburg, Michael Stoschek completed the Siemens AG “Stammhauslehre” Management Training program. At the age of 23, Michael Stoschek took over leadership of Metallwerk Max Brose & Co. on 1 October 1971 at his deceased grandfather’s wish. At the time the company had almost 1,000 employees in Coburg and generated turnover of 55 million Deutsche Marks (28 million euros).

In the late 1980s, Michael Stoschek initiated the company’s internationalization process by establishing the first two foreign offices, one in the British town of Coventry and one in Rubi, Spain. Like his grandfather, he valued self-financed growth. This was also made possible by the restraint of the shareholders when it came to payouts. The President and CEO systematically transformed the company into a worldwide operating mechatronics specialist.

In 2005, Michael Stoschek withdrew from operational management and became the Chairman of the Brose Group. By this time, Brose’s turnover had increased to 2.2 billion euros, the number of locations had risen to 39 worldwide and the automotive supplier employed nearly 9,000 people. To this day Michael Stoschek represents the interests of the owners vis-à-vis the management and the outside world and is in regular contact with the CEO of the company.

Outside of Brose, Michael Stoschek took over responsibility as a member of the General Assembly of the Coburg Chamber of Commerce and was president from 2007 to 2008. In his birthplace Coburg, he worked hard to preserve the historical integrity of the town’s buildings, was involved in the redesign of the marketplace and initiated the “New City Center Concept” with other entrepreneurs and architects. He chaired the board of trustees of Bamberg’s World Cultural Heritage Trust from 2004 to 2016.

At Michael Stoschek’s behest, the Brose Group has promoted sports, education, culture and social affairs at its worldwide locations for decades. He is also very active in his personal life: he supports over 50 institutions, projects and people in his home community of Ahorn, the region and around the world.

Michael Stoschek received the “Stiftung Industrieforschung” (Industrial Research Foundation) Initiative Award in 2003 in recognition of his impact as an entrepreneur. He earned the Grand Cross 1st Class of the Federal Republic of Germany, received the Bavarian Order of Merit, was honored as Family Business Owner of the Year and received the Golden Pin of Honor from the Coburg Chamber of Congress.

He also made a name for himself as a competitive athlete: Michael Stoschek was the two-time winner of the Bavarian show jumping championships and the four-time winner of the Franconian championships. In 2006 he was recognized as the European Champion in rallying with historic vehicles. He is the supervisory board chairman of the German basketball champions Brose Bamberg.