Press Clipping

Company founder Udo Hardieck deceased

July 12, 2018

It is with great sadness that the GERRY WEBER International AG announces the death of the company founder Udo Hardieck. Mr. Hardieck died yesterday, on July 11, 2018 of serious illness at the age of 74 years.

GERRY WEBER International AG looks back on the outstanding entrepreneurial achievements of Udo Hardieck with great respect and esteem. Together with Gerhard Weber, he has formed an international, listed fashion group with around 7,000 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide.

On 1 March 1973, together with Gerhard Weber, the qualified garment engineer founded Hatex KG with headquarters in Halle/Westphalia, originally for the production and sale of ladies’ trousers. In October 1989, the company was listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and became GERRY WEBER International AG, one of the largest clothing companies in Germany today. Until 2009, Udo Hardieck was a member of the Management Board of the globally operating fashion group before joining the Supervisory Board. As a board member of the company, he was responsible for Production, IT and Logistics.

In addition, Udo Hardieck was – in a cooperative partnership with Gerhard Weber – the initiator of the GERRY WEBER OPEN, the world-famous tennis tournament in Halle/Westphalia, which has developed into an internationally renowned tennis event on the ATP World Tour since its tournament debut in 1993. Together, as founders and creative minds, they had designed the 12,300-seat GERRY WEBER STADION the year before and turned it into the largest national tennis stadium. The subsequent construction of the GERRY WEBER SPORTPARK HOTEL led to the founding of the concert and event organiser GERRY WEBER WORLD with its further departments.

In parallel to this, Udo Hardieck promoted the game of golf in Halle/Westphalia and founded the Teutoburger Wald Golf Club in May 1990. Since the very beginning he has served the club as president and developed it into one of the largest golf clubs in East Westphalia-Lippe. His sporting commitment was primarily to youth work and led to numerous successes at national level.

Founder Gerhard Weber and Ralf Weber (CEO of GERRY WEBER International AG) greatly appreciate and acknowledge the achievements of the deceased: "On behalf of the entire company, I would like to express our deepest regret and condolences. The loss of Udo Hardieck left us deeply saddened. Our thoughts and those of the entire staff are with his family. We remember Udo Hardieck as our company founder, an investor and a committed entrepreneur. Until the very last moment he stood by us as a knowledgeable advisor, reliable partner and long-standing friend.”