Kirchheim / Teck, Germany (April 21, 2021) – Waltraud Lenhart (64), owner and managing partner of LEKI, unexpectedly passed away after a short and serious illness. After she lost her husband Klaus in a tragic plane accident in 2012, she took the reins of LEKI without hesitation, bold yet humble in guiding the company with her forward thinking and inclusive leadership style. Together with her team of 350 international employees, she created a solid team designed to adapt and excel in the ever-changing environment of the outdoor industry.
Always putting the interests of customers, partners and employees first, Waltraud Lenhart made this the focal point of her value-oriented thinking and actions, and the company excelled because of it. Of particular importance to her was sustainable corporate management and commitment to social issues. She was especially focused on supporting young athletes and those with disadvantages. She always put people first and ran the business in a customer-centric manner putting their needs above the bottom line.
Waltraud Lenhart leaves behind an extremely stable company with an experienced leadership team that is well prepared for the future. She is survived by her children Friederike and Markus Lenhart, representing the third generation of the LEKI family.
The two managing directors Martin Rominger and Matthias Hatt will lead the company in the future. “Waltraud Lenhart gave distinction to LEKI and the outdoor industry with her social and empathetic nature. We will do everything in our power to continue her life’s work in her interest,” says Matthias Hatt, CEO of LEKI. LEKI will continue to be based on the company’s core values – innovation, quality and partnership.