Michael Pieper
Michael Pieper | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1946 Switzerland |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, Businessman |
| Years active | 1989–2012 (CEO of Franke) |
| Known for | Proprietor of Franke, owner of Artemis Group |
Michael Pieper (born 1946) is a Swiss billionaire entrepreneur and proprietor of the kitchen appliance manufacturer Franke through his ownership of Artemis Group. By October 2021, his estimated net worth was approximately US$4.8 billion.
Early life
Born in 1946, Pieper pursued studies in economics at the University of St. Gallen.
Career
Artemis Group, owned by Pieper, holds control over Franke, a company originally acquired by his father, Will Pieper, in 1975. Michael Pieper assumed the role of CEO at Franke in 1989, guiding its expansion within the kitchen, hygiene, and coffee preparation sectors. He relinquished his CEO position in 2012. The group employs roughly 9,000 individuals and reported revenues of 2.076 billion Swiss francs in 2017. On the Forbes list, he is ranked 804th globally and is among Switzerland’s top ten wealthiest people, with an estimated fortune ranging from CHF 3.5 to 4 billion.
In addition to Franke, Artemis Group maintains a substantial portfolio of real estate and holds investments in Swiss industrial enterprises, including a controlling stake in Feintool, a precision cutting technology company, as well as ownership of teak plantations located in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Pieper also holds board memberships at companies such as construction materials producer Forbo and automotive components manufacturer Autoneum.
Demonstrating interest in emerging ventures, Pieper became involved with Wingman Ventures in 2019 through an investment in the high single-digit million range. In 2020, he acquired a 10% shareholding in biotech firm Tomorrowlabs GmbH alongside Wolfgang Reitzle, former CEO of Linde. Established in Vienna in 2016, Tomorrowlabs specializes in developing regenerative skin and hair care products utilizing their proprietary HSF (Hypoxia-inducible factors) active ingredient.
Personal life
Pieper lives in Lucerne, Switzerland with his spouse and two children. His offspring, Nina and Alexander, actively participate in the Franke group’s operations and hold positions on the board of Artemis Holding.