The trade journal "kfz-betrieb" presented Helmut Peter (61) with the "Executive Circle Award 2019" for his life's work on September 26, 2019 in Würzburg. In 1990, he opened an authorized Mercedes-Benz workshop for cars and vans in Nordhausen. In doing so, the East German brought the Mercedes star to the north of Thuringia and laid the foundation for his current multi-brand dealership group.
Almost 30 years later, the Peter Group has a total of 24 car dealerships in 15 cities in Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt and Lower Saxony and is currently represented by eight car brands. Mercedes-Benz, Smart, Opel, Peugeot, Skoda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Jeep are among the brands sold, while service contracts are available for Volkswagen Passenger Cars, VW Commercial Vehicles, Chrysler, Dodge and Saab. In addition, there are two bodywork and three paint centers as well as three ADAC locations and a Europcar car rental company. The group of companies has 800 employees, including around 100 trainees. Many of today's managers started their careers with an apprenticeship at the company.
"We're sure to get your life moving" - this was the company's motto from the very beginning, and it still applies today: on the one hand, as a promise to customers to do everything possible to ensure their mobility. On the other hand, it is a message to all employees.
Because another of the award winner's philosophies of life is: "If you don't dare, you lose!" Helmut Peter always demands full commitment; standing still is a foreign concept to him. Over the past ten years, his company has almost doubled its new and used car sales; in 2018, the multi-brand dealership group sold over 11,000 new and used cars.
"kfz-betrieb" editor-in-chief Wolfgang Michel presented the award at the "Executive Circle 2019" evening event at Steinburg Castle in Würzburg with the words: "With the Executive Circle Award 2019, the editorial team is honoring the outstanding life's work of a major automobile dealer in Germany. Without the fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification, without the right friends and advisors, but above all without optimism and vision, this success story would not exist today. In 1990, Chancellor Helmut Kohl promised the people in the East 'blooming landscapes'. This year's award winner has certainly played his part in the 'flourishing landscapes' of the past decades and more than deserves the Executive Circle Award for Lifetime Achievement. Congratulations, Helmut Peter!"
Award winner Helmut Peter commented on the award as follows: "In October 30 years ago, I, 32 years young, stood on the street with the candle in my hand and contributed everything to the fact that we can stand here together today. My son Andreas was ten years old and my daughter Daniela was three. Those days were anything but easy for us, we didn't know VAT and the market economy. I spent the first seven/eight years painstakingly building up our company and over time got us to where we are today. My son has now been with the company for 14 years, so the succession is settled. Even if we don't always agree, I would like to dedicate this award to him. Thank you very much for this great honor, the Executive Circle Award will be given a place of honor in the company."
"kfz-betrieb" presented the award at the "Executive Circle", a forum for Germany's major car dealers. The Executive Circle took place for the fifth time at Steinburg Castle in Würzburg. The specialist media brand invites only the top management level of Germany's major car dealers to this event format. The aim of this event is to establish a cross-brand exchange and to network highly qualified expertise.
You can find a detailed report on the Executive Circle Award 2019 here.
"kfz-betrieb" is the most widely read trade magazine in the automotive industry and has been informing the automotive trade and service sector for over 100 years. "kfz-betrieb" is the official organ of the German automotive trade (ZDK), the professional interest group for around 38,000 car dealerships and workshops. News from the entire automotive industry can be found at www.kfz-betrieb.de and in the daily newsletter The parent company Vogel Communications Group is one of the leading service providers for B2B communication in the German-speaking world. Its headquarters are in Würzburg. With four agencies in Berlin, the Group offers comprehensive communications expertise. The Group's services range from specialist media, corporate publishing, social media services, PR, trade fair services, networks and communities to market intelligence & insights and an in-house congress center.
