Wuppertal, May 2025 – Generational and management change at IsoProfil: Since April 2025, Stefanie Sander has been solely responsible for managing the family business as managing partner.
The change marks a special moment in the company's more than 40-year history. After a carefully planned handover process, Dieter Sander, her father and the founder of IsoProfil, has retired from operational business and transferred responsibility to the next generation – a decision that ensures continuity while also bringing fresh perspectives.
When support becomes a vocation
After completing her master's degree in economics, Stefanie Sander joined IsoProfil in 2015 to temporarily support her father's company. But after her first insights into the company, it quickly became clear that she wanted to become an entrepreneur herself. What was intended as short-term help developed into a conscious career decision.
Initially working in the company's marketing department, she quickly recognised the diversity and potential of the family business. Step by step, she took on additional areas of responsibility and gained practical experience in all aspects of operations and specialised industry knowledge through her work in human resources and project management.
In 2021, she was appointed to the management board – a logical next step in her development as an entrepreneur and, at the same time, the beginning of a carefully planned transition. In April 2025, she finally took over IsoProfil completely.
Team-focused management style
‘What is particularly important to me is good cooperation on an equal footing,’ emphasises the new managing director. Stefanie Sander's management philosophy focuses on clear areas of responsibility while promoting synergies within the team. ‘Every employee should have their own area of responsibility, but we complement each other and make use of our collective strengths.’
Future prospects for IsoProfil
Despite the current challenging economic situation, Stefanie Sander is optimistic about the future. ‘I am convinced that Germany will remain a good location.’ Her confidence is also based on the company's broad positioning: ‘Since IsoProfil supplies customers from a wide range of sectors and industries, we are well protected against industry-specific fluctuations and can react flexibly to market changes.’
The new managing director already has concrete plans for the strategic direction of the family business, which has been in existence since 1983:
A new approach to customer service is also particularly close to her heart: ‘Ideally, we would like to work with customers while they are still in the early stages of design. By actively supporting them at this stage, we can contribute our expertise right from the start and work together to develop optimal solutions.’
Personal and business future
When asked about her vision for IsoProfil, Stefanie Sander responds with a clear principle: "In times of change, it is particularly important to value the tried and tested while remaining open to new ideas. This balance is what defines us as a company. My vision can be summed up in three words: modern, dynamic, structured. As the managing director of a family business, I am also motivated to create an environment at IsoProfil where employees enjoy coming to work and where we work together to develop products that will continue to serve our customers well into the future."