Phil Petter has had a new majority owner since the beginning of the year.
Alps Business Partners AG has held the majority stake in the Austrian knitwear manufacturer since January 1st, Phil Petter announced on Thursday. In this context, there is also a change in management. The previous managing director and founder of the brand Kurt Petter is moving to the advisory board and is retiring together with co-founder and wife Corinna Petter.
His daughter Anja Grabherr-Petter, who is still in charge of creative management, and Max Wührer, who was previously part of the management at home textiles supplier Fussenegger Holding GmbH & Co KG, will take over for him. Wührer takes over the areas of sales and finance.
“I’m happy to have Max Wührer, a native Vorarlberg manager at my side who works in the company just like me,” said Grabherr-Petter. “We complement each other perfectly and have already become important sparring partners for each other in the first few weeks.”
Former Wolford CEO Axel Dreher heads the advisory board
The Swiss investment company Alps Business Partners AG, which specializes in small and medium-sized companies, has set itself the task of “bringing regionally rooted family companies with hidden champion status onto the international stage,” according to the announcement.
In order to drive growth at home and abroad, the management is supported by an advisory board, which also includes founder Kurt Petter. This is headed by Axel Dreher, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the new majority owner. Dreher has many years of experience in a management position. He was COO and CFO of the Swiss underwear specialist Triumph and was CEO of the clothing supplier Wolford for almost seven years.
“We have adopted a healthy structure and an unadulterated brand, we will strategically develop this potential together with the management in order to consolidate the premium positioning of the brand,” says Dreher. “We will absolutely maintain Phil Petter’s course as an absolute product specialist and innovator in the field of knitwear. We make our expertise and network available to further develop the brand.”
Phil Petter is based in Dornbirn, Austria, and is celebrating his 50th anniversary this year. The brand, which specializes in knitwear, produces in Austria and Europe.