Jan Philip ‘Pico’ Petershagen joined the management team of the BEWITAL Group on September 1. This marks the first time that the third generation of the family business from Südlohn-Oeding has taken on responsibility. This step sends a strong signal to the more than 600 employees and partners of the three companies BEWITAL agri, BEWITAL petfood, and the freight forwarding company westrans—a signal of continuity and future-oriented development for the group.
With the arrival of Pico Petershagen, the group of companies is continuing the development of BEWITAL. The third generation is stepping up to strengthen BEWITAL with new ideas, preserve what has been tried and tested, and lead the group into a successful future together with its employees. “Family history and future opportunities go hand in hand,” says the 28-year-old. “I have great respect for what has been achieved here over the past decades. Now I am looking forward to doing my part to further develop BEWITAL as a strong group of companies—and to ensure that we can continue to be proud of what we achieve together in the future.”
After completing his studies and working in Münster, the USA, and France, Petershagen gained international experience in setting up a software company that grew from a small team to around 300 employees in just a few years. He now wants to bring this experience to BEWITAL. “For me, BEWITAL is a family business with a start-up mentality,” he emphasizes. “For me, family business means long-term thinking, down-to-earthness, and cohesion. Start-up mentality means thinking outside the box, being courageous, and working together. This combination makes us strong.”
In the future, Pico Petershagen will be primarily responsible for digitalization and internationalization within the management team—two crucial areas for the future that will strengthen the group in the long term. He emphasizes: “Between our roots here in Südlohn-Oeding and international growth—that's exactly where I see the path forward for BEWITAL.” He works side by side with his parents Ulrike and Jürgen Petershagen and his uncle Dr. Jürgen Wigger. They took over responsibility from company founder Bernhard Wigger in 2001 and have been successfully managing the company ever since. Now both generations are shaping the future of BEWITAL together.
About the BEWITAL Group
For over 60 years, BEWITAL has stood for quality, tradition, and innovative solutions from the Münsterland region. The family-run group of companies combines experience with state-of-the-art technologies and forward-looking ideas for sustainable progress. Three specialized companies with over 600 employees in more than 100 professional fields develop, produce, and deliver solutions for customers in over 60 countries—with a clear commitment to excellent quality, innovation, and sustainable action.