Mark Bezner

born 11 March 1963 in Bietigheim-Bissingen (Baden-Württemberg, Germany)

1982      General qualification for university entrance at the Ellental grammar school, Bietigheim-Bissingen.

Member of the German swimming team

1982−1983      Basic military service in the Bundeswehr, sports promotion company (Sportförderkompanie, discipline swimming), Warendorf

1983−1984      Hohenstein Academy for Textiles, Bönnigheim

Work placement at Brennet AG, manufacturer of clothing fabrics, Bad Säckingen/Germany

1984−1987      Studied economic sciences (marketing/finance) at the Business School/ University of California, Los Angeles/USA, graduating with "magna cum laude" honours

1988−1990      Product manager at Procter & Gamble Inc., Bad Schwalbach

1990      Joined OLYMP Bezner GmbH & Co. KG as Head of Marketing and Sales, Bietigheim-Bissingen

1995      Appointed Managing Partner of OLYMP Bezner GmbH & Co. KG, Bietigheim-Bissingen

1996      Introduced "OLYMP Luxor", the non-iron and wrinkle-free shirt line

2000−2002      Owner/President Management Program (OPM) Harvard Business School in Boston/USA

2003     Entrepreneur of the Year (runner-up in Industry category) at Ernst & Young AG, Stuttgart/Frankfurt

Named Manager of the Year by market intern, Düsseldorf

2004      Member of the Regional and Full Council of the Stuttgart CCI (ongoing)

Forum award of the Textile Wirtschaft journal published by the Deutscher Fachverlag/Frankfurt

2005      Finalist Entrepreneur of the Year (Industry)

2006      Finalist Entrepreneur of the Year (Industry)

Named Manager of the Year by market intern, Düsseldorf

Member of the State Advisory Board of the Commerzbank/ Frankfurt (ongoing)

2007      Named Manager of the Year by market intern, Düsseldorf