Following its ordinary general meeting, GROPYUS has completed a planned transition into its next growth phase. Markus Fuhrmann, who led the company for seven years as founder and in the roles of CEO and co-CEO, is moving to the Supervisory Board. He will assume the role of Deputy Chairman there. This process began 15 months ago with the appointment of co-founder Philipp Erler as co-CEO. Philipp Erler now leads the company as sole CEO.
With this step, the GROPYUS Supervisory Board undergoes a reorganisation. Daniel Riedl remains Chairman of the Supervisory Board. Markus Fuhrmann takes over the position of Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board from Harald Mahrer, who is leaving the body. Thomas Kretschmar is also stepping down from the Supervisory Board. The body will continue to be complemented by Philipp Grosse (CFO Vonovia), Emmanuel Thomassin (CFO Wise), Fredrik Nordh (CEO Thisbe), Ricardo Pires (Chairman Semapa Next and CEO Semapa Group), and Claudia Ungar-Huber (Head of Subsidiaries and Transaction Management Vienna Insurance Group).
Strategic Development and Corporate Direction
Based on his founding idea, Markus Fuhrmann developed GROPYUS into a technologically leading and fast-growing company. He significantly shaped the company in entrepreneurial and strategic terms since its inception. His areas of activity included building and financing the company, long-term strategic direction, and establishing key partnerships. GROPYUS constructs turnkey multi-family houses using sustainable timber construction, which are digitally planned, industrially manufactured, and rapidly assembled. From the original business idea, a new industrial and digital platform for housing construction emerged.
GROPYUS has already demonstrated the performance of its concept through the successful realisation and handover of initial projects. Approximately 100,000 square metres of gross floor area are currently in various stages of implementation. The company has completed a crucial corporate phase and is now entering the next stage of development, which aims for scaling and operational excellence. The recent changes in leadership create clear responsibilities for this. Markus Fuhrmann remains closely associated with the company as Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board and will continue to provide advisory support for strategic development.
Leadership Perspectives
Markus Fuhrmann expressed his pride in GROPYUS's development over the past seven years. He emphasised that an ambitious idea had evolved into an industrial and digital platform for housing construction, which had proven itself in realised projects. He stated that the planned transition was initiated last year with Philipp Erler's appointment as co-CEO. He will now advise the company on strategic matters and growth financing as a member of the Supervisory Board. Philipp Erler has known the company since its founding and is the suitable person to lead GROPYUS into the future.
Philipp Erler thanked Markus Fuhrmann for his trust and the shared years during which GROPYUS was built from an idea to its first realised buildings. He highlighted that this development would not have been possible without Fuhrmann's vision, entrepreneurial courage, and ability to inspire people for an ambitious goal. He expressed his delight at leading GROPYUS into the next phase together with the executive team. He stressed that it was very valuable for the company that Markus Fuhrmann would continue to closely accompany the company with his experience, strategic vision, and network. Furthermore, he thanked Harald Mahrer and Thomas Kretschmar for their support and constructive exchange during this important phase of the company's development.
Daniel Riedl praised Markus Fuhrmann's entrepreneurial foresight and determination in developing GROPYUS from an idea into a technologically leading and fast-growing company. He expressed his gratitude and respect and described it as a strong signal that Fuhrmann would remain with the company as Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board and help shape its strategic development. He noted that with Philipp Erler, an experienced leader was taking over overall operational responsibility, which represented an excellent constellation for the next growth phase. He thanked the departing Supervisory Board colleagues Harald Mahrer and Thomas Kretschmar for their expertise and the valuable perspectives they had brought to the body. The newly constituted Supervisory Board is convinced that Philipp Erler and his executive team will continue to drive GROPYUS's scaling and innovation leadership.
