A milestone for our family business

On November 6, 2025, Elke and Andreas Hartleif were honored in Munich with the prestigious "EY Entrepreneur Of The Year"award in the family business category. This recognition from EY celebrates our entrepreneurial spirit, our drive for innovation, and our long-standing commitment to sustainability in the construction industry. For more than 50 years, VEKA has been synonymous with quality, recyclability, and innovative solutions in high-end PVC systems for windows and doors. With more than 7,000 employees at 54 locations worldwide, we are actively shaping the future of construction and setting new standards for sustainability and energy efficiency.

An award with special meaning
This award is not only a testament to our current business achievements, but also an emotional moment for the entire VEKA family. Years ago, VEKA founder Heinrich Laumann attended the award ceremony together with his daughter Elke Hartleif as nominees. Now, many years later, we are proud to finally accept this award. It is exciting to think that we can celebrate this success on his behalf. We are convinced that Heinrich Laumann would be proud of how his life's work has evolved and of the innovative strength of the current VEKA Group.

Modern leadership and sustainable growth
VEKA is a family business with a clear profile. "The most important thing for us was to remain an independent family business,"says Andreas Hartleif, CEO of the VEKA Group. This independence and close cohesion continue to shape our actions today. "I know all the local managers personally,"reports Elke Hartleif, who, as Head of Human Resources, particularly values an open corporate culture. Modern leadership tools such as trust-based working hours, mobile working, and job sharing have long been established at VEKA. At the same time, we focus on personal interaction and a strong connection to our region: all employees are primarily recruited locally, and our training program has received multiple awards.

Responsibility and innovation as guiding principles
The jury particularly recognized VEKA's vision, sense of responsibility, and innovative capacity, which have shaped the industry for decades. Back in 1993, VEKA launched Europe's largest recycling plant for old windows, long before the circular economy became a political issue of interest. This attitude of recognizing opportunities and acting with confidence continues to drive us forward today.

Winning the "EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025"award is both a confirmation and motivation for us to continue developing sustainable and innovative solutions for our customers and partners. The next generation is already waiting in the wings, and we look forward to continuing VEKA's success story together.