After more than three decades of successful leadership by Andreas and Thomas Bawart, Banner is entering a new chapter: As of April 1, 2025, an external CEO has, for the first time, taken over operational management. So it’s a warm welcome to Werner Töpfl.

The leadership change is the result of a long-term planned and structured transition – with the aim of maintaining stability, whilst delivering strategic new initiatives. Over the past two years, Werner Töpfl has already been responsible for key areas such as finance, IT, supply chain, production control, and sustainability.

And with Banner’s Agenda 2030 in sight, the focus is now on transformation: increasing efficiency, driving digitalisation, and strengthening market orientation. Supported by two long-standing managers and members of the executive team, Franz Märzinger and Florian Steinhart, Werner Töpfl has a clear vision: “Banner is to stand out visibly from the competition through quality, customer proximity, speed, and clear decisions – innovative, sustainable, profitable.”

Whilst the previous managing directors are withdrawing from the operational side of the business, they remain closely tied to the company as owners. The change signifies ongoing progress and an obvious focus on the future.