The Hansgrohe Group mourns the loss of Klaus Grohe

For nearly fifty years, Klaus Grohe shaped the destiny of the Schiltach-based company, first as managing partner, then, from 1999, as chairman of the board of directors, and finally, from 2008 to 2015, as chairman of the supervisory board. Thanks to his visionary spirit, boundless energy, and customer focus, he transformed the company into a global player in the sanitaryware industry. He was passionate about developing innovative products with striking designs, perfecting shower and faucet lines down to the smallest detail. Furthermore, he understood that premium products needed to be promoted effectively – especially internationally; as early as the 1980s, he professionalized the company's marketing. His foresight, global outlook, and pragmatic approach paved the way for the AXOR and hansgrohe brands.

His guiding principle was: “Always get your hands dirty—be close to the customer, the product, and the employees, both in administration and in production.” A pragmatic man, Klaus Grohe always renounced privileges. As early as the 1980s, long before sustainable development became a mainstream trend, he championed environmentally responsible management: Hansgrohe appointed an environmental manager, developed low-flow showers, and installed a solar tower and a rooftop photovoltaic system at its Offenburg site, which received the Baden-Württemberg Environmental Award in 1994. Throughout his life, Klaus Grohe was committed to the well-being of Hansgrohe, his family, and society. In 2001, the city of Schiltach made him an honorary citizen. In 2009, he established the Klaus Grohe Foundation. In 2012, he received the "Best of Management Award" from the trade magazine si Informationen at the SHK Essen trade fair, recognizing his lifetime achievements as an entrepreneur and innovator. In 2022, he was honored with the German Founders Award presented by stern, Sparkassen, ZDF, and Porsche, one of the most prestigious awards in the German business world.

According to Hans Jürgen Kalmbach, Chairman of the Board of Management of Hansgrohe SE: “With Klaus Grohe, we have lost a pioneer who, to the very end, followed Hansgrohe’s development with interest and commitment as Honorary Chairman of our Supervisory Board. He laid the foundations for our Group’s global success and decisively shaped Hansgrohe’s DNA. We are deeply grateful to him; we will miss his guidance. His principles and passion for Hansgrohe will remain firmly rooted in the company and in our hearts. All employees, the Executive Board, the Supervisory Board, and our shareholder Masco mourn his passing and extend their sincere condolences to his family.”

For Richard Grohe, eldest son of Klaus Grohe, member of the supervisory board of Hansgrohe SE and managing director of Syngroh Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH: “Klaus leaves behind a human and entrepreneurial legacy of immeasurable depth. Upon taking the helm of Hansgrohe in 1975, he completely reinvented the family business, transforming it into a global company that no one could have imagined at the time. He brought prosperity to the region and to many places around the world. He founded a large family and taught us how to keep it united, transcending personalities, generations, and borders. Integrity and values ​​were not just principles he professed, but principles he embodied and passed on. His inspiration and achievements will endure for generations. We accept his legacy and are committed to preserving it.”

As an expression of sympathy, donations can be made to the Klaus Grohe Foundation.
(IBAN: DE55 6645 2776 0000 0745 34 — reference: Water)