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After 30 years, an era is ending at the Main-Kinzig Disabled Works (BWMK). Martin Berg is leaving the company.
Schlüchtern – A veritable bang echoed through the Kinzigtal between Schlüchtern and Hanau on Monday (March 16th). The long-time managing director of the Main-Kinzig Disabled Works (BWMK), Martin Berg, has ended his position “with immediate effect”. The social enterprise announced this in a press release.
Sudden change of leadership at BWMK: Martin Berg resigns
After more than three decades of commitment to the BWMK, which can certainly be described as the 64-year-old's life's work, the Supervisory Board and the Board of Trustees have “agreed accordingly” with Martin Berg, is the wording in the press release BWMK, which recently opened an inclusive bistro in Schlüchtern.
In the course of internal consultations, it became apparent that there were different views between the committees and Martin Berg on some corporate governance issues that “ultimately could not be converted into a common perspective”. This describes in well-placed terms that there are obviously irreconcilable differences between the previous managing director, who has reportedly already vacated his office, and supervisory bodies.
Whether these differences relate to goals for the further development of the Main-Kinzig facility for disabled people or whether the differences of opinion concern mutual interaction in decision-making processes, internal procedures or even processes is not described in the announcement – and could not be found out when asked in the BWMK.
In the transition phase that has now begun, the BWMK will be managed by Mareike Meister (51), who has been working as managing director since 2021. However, the second managing director position is to be filled with a suitable person – probably after an advertisement and subsequent selection process.
Keyword: Main-Kinzig Works for the Disabled
The Main-Kinzig Disabled Works (BWMK) currently offers around 1,400 workshop jobs at various locations. More than 900 employees work there with another almost 1,000 employees in the BWMK group. With targeted offerings, the BWMK helps ensure that people with physical, mental and psychological disabilities of all ages can participate in life in society.
Founded in 1974, the BWMK has developed into a social enterprise that is represented at more than 50 locations in the Main-Kinzig district. In Bergwinkel these are, for example, the Hofgut in Steinau-Marjoß, the Bergwinkel workshops in Schlüchtern, the “Brücke” residential and nursing home in Salmünster or the 1-2-3 supermarket in Bad Soden.
According to the information, Mareike Meister enjoys “the full trust of the supervisory board and the foundation board”. Employees, partners and other parties involved have already been informed about the change in the management of the BWMK. Martin Berg, who lives in Hanau, has “developed BWMK gGmbH with great personal commitment for more than 30 years and shaped it over many years,” his life’s work is expressly acknowledged in the press release.
Under his leadership, the organization has undoubtedly become one of the most important social enterprises in the region. The supervisory board and the entire organization “thank him for his many years of commitment.” Nothing changes for the people in the BWMK. Ongoing operations at all locations continue as normal. The workforce is doing their work “as committed as usual – we are expressly grateful for that.”
