Maximilian Kleinert Appointed to Manufactum’s Management Board

Maximilian Kleinert, who holds a degree in business administration, began his career in investment banking in Frankfurt after completing his Master’s in International Business Finance in Maastricht, Netherlands. In 2012, he joined EY in Hamburg. In June 2017, Kleinert joined the Otto Group’s corporate strategy team, where he led significant portfolio projects, most recently overseeing the sale of Sportscheck in 2020 as a department head. In March 2021, he assumed the role of Chief of Staff, reporting directly to Sergio Bucher, Group Executive Board Member for Brands and Retail, focusing on implementing the Otto Group’s investment and internationalization strategy. In 2023, Kleinert became Director of Business Change at Freemans Grattan Holding in Bradford, UK, where he played a key role in the company’s technology transformation.

“At the Otto Group, we are focusing more than ever on scaling successful business models. Specifically, we aim to diversify internationally and increase our market share in Europe and the USA in the medium to long term. We are confident that Manufactum’s commitment to high-quality, functional, and repairable products will inspire customers outside Germany and Austria to adopt more conscious consumption habits, offering them a welcome alternative to ubiquitous, fast-moving mass-market goods,” says Sergio Bucher, Otto Group Executive Board Member for Brands and Retail.
More and more people are seeking products that endure and brands they can trust. For this reason, Manufactum’s presence will be expanded and further developed over the coming years, for example in the Benelux countries and Denmark. Already today, the Otto Group delights over 45 million customers worldwide with its high-quality products, unique product ranges, and differentiated services.

“I am confident that Maximilian Kleinert will be an excellent addition to the current Manufactum management team. With his extensive international leadership experience, proven digital expertise, and great passion for Manufactum’s product range, he brings precisely the right skills to scale our business with ‘good things’ in the targeted markets. I wish him much success and a sure hand in his new position,” adds Sergio Bucher.

The responsibilities of Alexander Peters and Kai Steffan remain unchanged by this expansion of the management board. Kai Steffan takes over as Chairman of the Manufactum management board.