The LoQu Optical Group, company supported by Argos Wityu, appointed Markus Rech as CEO as of August 2022. Together with Christoph Wein, they will form the group’s management team in the future.
“With Markus Rech, we were able to gain a colleague with many years of experience in the retail sector,” commented Frank Hermann, Managing Partner at Argos Wityu and member of LoQu’s Advisory Board. “For the future of the group’s development, we are focusing on an omnichannel strategy. Markus Rech is very experienced in this area, and we look forward to further expanding LoQu’s market position together with him.”
Previously, Markus Rech was notably Managing Director for SportScheck and Engelhorn. He successfully led both stationary retail companies into the digital age and established them as omnichannel companies. “All of LoQu’s brands offer potential to further shape them and take them to the next level, especially in the digital area. This is an exciting task that I am very happy to take on,” says Markus Rech about his start.
Markus Rech succeeds Tammo Bruns, who left the company in July 2022. Ruth-Anna Gräff-Weißmann, currently also a member of the Management Board, will also leave the company at the end of the year as she wants to join her family’s business. Christoph Wein will remain CFO of the Group and will manage the company together with Markus Rech.
Argos Wityu
Coralie Cornet
Head of Communications
ccc@argos.fund
+33 (0)6 14 38 33 37
DACH Press
Sara Günnewig
sg@sguennewig.de
+ 49 178-854 9636
LoQu Optical Group GmbH, headquartered in Bad Kreuznach, is one of Germany’s leading optical chains, with more than 670 employees, around €60 million in sales and over 90 stores. Independent private equity firm Argos Wityu acquired a majority stake in aktivoptik Group in 2018 as part of a succession plan and renamed it LoQu Optical Group. The group combines the brands aktivoptik (opticians in the checkout areas of large supermarkets), Optikhaus (traditional premium opticians) and smykker (young brand, vertical concept) and is growing both by opening new stores and through selective acquisitions.
About Argos Wityu / www.argos.wityu.fund
Argos Wityu is an independent European investment fund that supports companies in the transfer of business ownership. It has assisted more than 80 entrepreneurs, focusing its investment strategy on complex transactions with emphasis on transformation, growth, and close collaboration with management teams. Argos Wityu seeks to acquire majority interests and invest between €10m and €100m with each transaction. With more than €1bn under management and 30 years of experience, Argos Wityu operates from offices in Brussels, Frankfurt, Geneva, Luxembourg, Milan and Paris.
