The Zschimmer & Schwarz Group, an internationally operating supplier of chemical specialities and auxiliaries, was awarded the Axia Best Managed Companies Award 2019 in the presence of high-profile guests in Düsseldorf last night.

Since 2007, the renowned Axia Award has been awarded by Deloitte, WirtschaftsWoche magazine and the Federation of German Industries (BDI) to medium-sized businesses in Germany whose work is exemplary in terms of sustainability and far-sightedness. As of 2019, the Axia Award is part of the international Best Managed Companies Award. The latter has already been awarded in nine countries. With its new location in Germany, the Axia Award is a trademark of an international network of outstanding medium-sized companies.

Sustainability as a formula for success

The numerous applicants from a broad range of industries were evaluated by an independent, top-class panel of judges. The relevant categories were strategy, productivity & innovation, culture & commitment as well as governance & finance. Zschimmer & Schwarz impressed the judges in the “governance & finance” category with its sustainable and value-oriented company philosophy. The award presentation took place yesterday (Thursday) during a celebratory ceremonial act at the Capitol Theater in Düsseldorf. In front of over 200 renowned guests from business, science and the media, shareholder Christian Schwarz and General Manager Dietmar Clausen accepted the prize on behalf of Zschimmer & Schwarz.

Responsibility for the future

“At Zschimmer & Schwarz, we are aware of our corporate responsibility and focus all our actions on ensuring that our family business continues to be run in a sustainable and value-oriented way,” says Christian Schwarz, shareholder at the company. “Thanks to responsible leadership and good governance in particular, we are able to strike the right balance between local entrepreneurial freedom and efficient global cooperation in our highly international environment in order to use the advantages of our company group. In doing so, we always keep our primary goal in mind: to strengthen Zschimmer & Schwarz as a family business with a healthy financial basis in the long term and to pass it on to the next generation.”

An award for the whole company

“The recognition of our strategic approach is, above all, also an acknowledgement of our close cooperation between shareholders, the advisory board, general managers, managers and all employees,” says Dietmar Clausen, General Manager at Zschimmer & Schwarz. “It makes a great birthday present on the occasion of our 125th anniversary. We see this as an acknowledgment of our philosophy that tradition and innovation are by no means exclusive but, rather, can even be sources of inspiration for one another. Of course, this success is only possible thanks to our employees. With their commitment, they are the basis of our success, and they embody our motto ‘Chemistry tailor-made’ on a daily basis.”

“Like all award winners, Zschimmer & Schwarz also stands out thanks to its exemplary management, which combines strategic vision with innovation, sustainable leadership culture and good corporate governance in a unique way. Thus, the award winners help ensure the economic future of Germany as a business location and, at the same time, act as role models for other companies,” emphasises Lutz Meyer, Partner and Head of the medium-sized company programme at Deloitte.

“With the Axia Best Managed Companies Award, we aim to develop an ecosystem and network for medium-sized companies that are excellently managed, both in Germany and all over the world. We would like to congratulate Zschimmer & Schwarz and are pleased that they have become part of this exclusive network of successful companies,” adds Markus Seiz, Axia BMC Programme Manager.