Paul Gauselmann steps down: shift in leadership at the Merkur gaming enterprise
Paul Gauselmann relinquishes CEO role at Merkur Group on October 1st, age 90.
Lars Felderhoff, 48, takes over as CEO, having served as CFO.
With Gauselmann's departure, key Merkur Group positions will require new occupants.
Upon assuming the CEO role, Felderhoff acknowledged the challenge ahead, admitting, "We won't be able to replace a personality like Paul Gauselmann one-to-one."– Lars Felderhoff, new CEO and former CFO of Merkur Group, WirtschaftsWoche
Michael Gauselmann steps into his father's shoes
Michael Gauselmann, 68 (Paul Gauselmann's son), will assume the supervisory board chairmanship from Manfred Grünwald, 89, and take up the position of foundation board member of the Gauselmann family foundation, replacing Paul and Karin Gauselmann.
Commenting on the generational shift, Paul Gauselmann expressed his satisfaction, saying, "I'm glad that my son Michael is taking on this great responsibility and bringing his international experience to our company."– Paul Gauselmann, CEO of Merkur Group, ISA-GUIDE
Paul Gauselmann: Visionary and Driving Force behind Merkur Group
As founder and CEO of the Gauselmann Group, Paul Gauselmann is a renowned figure in the gaming industry, with his career dating back to the 1950s, where he initially worked for Siemens.
Gauselmann founded his first company, specializing in jukeboxes, in 1964. In 1974, he launched the company that eventually became known as the Merkur Group.
Expanding his portfolio to incorporate slot machines, Gauselmann transformed numerous German bars and pubs, and his groundbreaking machines revolutionized the gaming sector.
Under Gauselmann's leadership, the Merkur Group emerged as a significant player in the global gaming landscape, with numerous land-based German casinos, such as the Merkur Casino Bad Oeynhausen, celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2022.
Beyond his role as CEO, Gauselmann chaired the German Automatenindustrie (VDAI) association and co-founded the Paul and Karin Gauselmann Foundation in support of various social and cultural projects.
Gauselmann's entrepreneurial accomplishments merited numerous awards, culminating in his receiving the Federal Cross of Merit for his social and business achievements and his being honored as an honorary citizen of his hometown, Espelkamp.
Michael Gauselmann's Merkur Group Journey
Michael Gauselmann, 68 (Paul Gauselmann's son), joined the Merkur Group after earning a business administration degree in 1982. From 1983, he oversaw international business at the subsidiary Atronic. Until 2012, he served jointly with Paul Gauselmann on the Merkur Group's board.
Since 2016, Michael Gauselmann has served as a board member of the Gauselmann Family Foundation.
Lars Felderhoff's Career at Merkur Group
A Merkur Group veteran, Lars Felderhoff, worked at the Atronic subsidiary from 2000 to 2006. From 2007 to 2011, he held positions at developer studio GTech and the Metro Cash & Carry International wholesale company. Upon rejoining the Merkur Group in 2011, Felderhoff was appointed commercial manager of the adp Merkur subsidiary and subsequently became the group's CFO.
With Paul Gauselmann's retirement from the CEO role, the gaming industry will remember him as a successful entrepreneur and devoted supporter of various social and cultural initiatives.
Online casinos in Germany see new opportunities
The departure of Paul Gauselmann as CEO of Merkur Group opens up possible changes in the German online casino market, given Merkur Group's significant influence in the sector.
Germany's online casino scene waiting for innovative approaches
As Merkur Group transitions its leadership, experts expect to witness fresh perspectives and approaches in the unfolding German online casino landscape, with international expertise like that of Paul Gauselmann's son, Michael, potentially influencing developments.
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