Early Life and Career Beginnings
Erich Wesjohann started his career in 1962 as an apprentice in his family's agricultural business, which included a hatchery. In 1987, Erich and his brother Paul-Heinz took over the Lohmann-Wesjohann-Gruppe. In 1998, the brothers split the company.
Rise to Success: The EW Group
In 1999, Erich Wesjohann founded the EW Group, focusing on poultry breeding, genetics, and related activities. Under his leadership, EW Group became a global leader in the poultry industry, with over 300 subsidiaries worldwide. Key acquisitions and expansions, such as the acquisition of Aviagen in 2005, significantly bolstered the company's global presence. EW Group has a strong presence across Europe, North America, and Asia.
Key Business Strategies
The EW Group's success is rooted in its focus on animal and plant breeding, animal health, and diagnostics. The company emphasizes research and development to drive innovation in genetics, nutrition, and health. A commitment to sustainability and animal welfare is also central to its operations. The company's structure allows for independent management through its subsidiaries, empowering them with full responsibility for their strategic and operational leadership.
Philanthropy
While specific details about Erich Wesjohann's philanthropy are not readily available in the search results, it is known that the family supports agriculture and food security. The Heinz-Lohmann Foundation was initiated by the Wesjohann brothers.