The HIMA Group is the recipient of the Best Managed Companies Award 2026. With this award, Deloitte Private, UBS, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, and the Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e. V. (BDI) honor excellently managed companies as an incentive and role model for others to shape the future with strategic foresight, innovative strength, a sustainable leadership culture, and sound corporate governance.
HIMA impressed the jury in all four areas: Strategy, Productivity & Innovation, Culture & Commitment, and Governance & Finance. With 22 group companies and targeted acquisitions in strategically important markets, HIMA has consistently expanded its international presence in recent years. At the same time, the company is evolving from a product manufacturer into a global solutions provider for safety-critical applications in the process and rail industries. The award confirms the strategic course of the internationally active family-owned company, which is actively shaping the digitalization of functional safety, expanding its global presence, and making targeted investments in innovation.
“For us as shareholders, this award underscores that the management team stands for high-quality management and credible leadership, and meets our expectations for successful and responsible corporate development,” says Steffen Philipp, shareholder of the HIMA Group.
“This award fills us with great pride. It is a recognition of the commitment and daily dedication of our team worldwide. At the same time, it serves as an incentive for us to consistently continue on our chosen path: the transformation from a product manufacturer to a global solutions provider. With initiatives such as our Innovation Lab himalaya and the Customer Solutions Center, we are laying the foundation to actively drive digitalization and innovation in functional safety,” says Jörg de la Motte, CEO of the HIMA Group.
“Our growth is based on a clear long-term strategy and consistent implementation,” says Dr. Michael Löbig, CFO of the HIMA Group. “This includes targeted investments in our international presence as well as successful acquisitions that strengthen our expertise and market access. The trust our shareholders place in this path is a decisive factor in our success.”
“Rarely has excellent corporate leadership been more important than in these challenging times. Best Managed Companies such as HIMA set benchmarks when it comes to agility and resilience: they respond quickly to today’s multiple changes and consistently view transformation as a mandate to shape the future. In an environment where what once seemed familiar is increasingly being called into question, these qualities deserve special recognition. With the Best Managed Companies Award, we honor companies that lead the way, act with courage, and serve as outstanding role models for Germany’s Mittelstand. HIMA acts with a confidence that provides orientation – now more than ever,” says Dr. Christine Wolter, Partner at Deloitte and Lead Deloitte Private.
About the Best Managed Companies Program
The Best Managed Companies Program is a competition and seal of quality for successful medium-sized companies. The vision is to build a national and global ecosystem of excellently managed medium-sized enterprises. A key distinguishing feature of the award is its international scope: Best Managed Companies was launched by Deloitte in Canada in the 1990s and has since been successfully introduced in more than 45 countries. The winners are selected through a multi-stage process in which companies are rigorously evaluated for their excellence in the four core areas of Strategy, Productivity & Innovation, Culture & Commitment, and Finance & Governance.
About the Organizers
Dr. Michael Löbig, CFO of the HIMA Group and Jörg de la Motte, CEO of the HIMA Group at the presentation of the Best Managed Companies Award 2026. (Image: Deloitte)
Deloitte
Deloitte provides leading professional services to nearly 90% of the Fortune Global 500® and thousands of private companies. Legal advisory services in Germany are provided by Deloitte Legal. Our people deliver measurable and lasting results that help reinforce public trust in capital markets and enable clients to transform and thrive. Building on its 180+-year history, Deloitte spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte’s over 470,000 people worldwide work together every day to make an impact that matters at www.deloitte.com/de.
UBS
UBS is a leading and truly global wealth manager and the leading universal bank in Switzerland. It also provides diversified asset management solutions and focused investment banking capabilities. UBS manages 7 trillion dollars of invested assets as per fourth quarter 2025. UBS helps clients achieve their financial goals through personalized advice, solutions, and products. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the firm is operating in more than 50 markets around the globe. UBS Group shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e.V. (BDI)
The BDI is the umbrella organisation for German industry and industry-related service providers. It represents 38 sectoral associations and 15 regional offices. It represents more than 100,000 companies – ranging from listed corporations to medium-sized family businesses – employing around eight million people. This makes the association the voice of German industry in Berlin and Brussels. The BDI is committed to promoting competitive and successful companies in Germany, Europe and the world.
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (F.A.Z.)
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (F.A.Z.) is one of the most important national daily news-papers in Germany and worldwide. It stands for political, economic and social relevance, for independence and excellent journalistic quality. More than 300 editors produce quality journal-ism every day in print and digital media. The award winning editorial team has one of the largest in house correspondent networks of any daily newspaper worldwide.