Retail: C&A Holding Cofra gets its first non-family boss

C&A Holding Cofra has appointed its first non-family CEO, Georg Wunderlin, who will take over the position in April 2027. Wunderlin, who is currently the CEO of British asset manager Schroders Capital, will also join the board of directors. He succeeds outgoing CEO Boudewijn Beerkens, a member of the Brenninkmeijer family, who is retiring.

Cofra Holding AG, based in Zug, Switzerland, is the umbrella company for the Brenninkmeijer family enterprise. The company operates offices and branches across Europe, in London, New York, and along both coasts of the United States. The family, known for founding the C&A fashion chain in 1841, owns between 50 to 60 of the 2,000 family members.

Cofra is the first of several prominent figures revealed by the family in recent weeks. The new CEO brings nearly 30 years of experience in the financial sector and is the first professional investor to hold the position. His goal is to increase the family's wealth and attract more non-family capital, with the aim of growing the managed wealth to approximately 70 billion euros by 2034.

Wunderlin has already built two private market platforms and is committed to sustainability and impact investing, aligning with the family's mission to create a positive impact in the world. The Brenninkmeijer family is part of a small group of about 15 percent of high net worth investors who prioritize sustainability alongside returns, while the majority only address it selectively.

A recent study by the research institute ResFutura reveals that family-owned investment companies are gradually gaining expertise in sustainable transformation.