Alexander Müller receives the 2025 Business Award
Outstanding economic and social achievements
In the presence of around 120 guests, the city of Hof honored an outstanding entrepreneur with the Hof Business Award at the Wirtschaftsforum 2025: Alexander Müller.
"The Managing Director of Auto Müller GmbH & Co KG. has not only successfully positioned his company on the market with foresight, innovative strength and a clear economic strategy, but has also made a significant contribution to the economic development of the region," said Mayor Eva Döhla in her laudatory speech.
The traditional family business, which has its origins in western Upper Franconia, has developed steadily under Müller's leadership. Today, it is firmly anchored in the region with locations in south-eastern Thuringia, northern Upper Franconia and the Saxon Vogtland. Particularly noteworthy is the Hof site, where the headquarters is located with over 100 employees and where the entire group of companies is managed.
Auto Müller GmbH & Co KG is not only a reliable employer with over 500 employees, but also an important player in the automotive sector. While the dealership operates successfully in the passenger car sector, the truck division in Hof has developed into one of the leading locations in Germany. The close networking with the Mercedes Group underlines the supra-regional importance of the company.
In addition to his entrepreneurial successes, Alexander Müller is strongly committed to the region. He supports associations, cultural life and is actively involved in service clubs. His commitment to promoting young talent is reflected in the consistent training and further qualification of skilled workers - a valuable contribution to securing skilled workers and strengthening Hof as a business location. With the award of the Hof Business Prize 2025, the city of Hof is honoring Alexander Müller's outstanding economic and social achievements.
Economic Forum 2025 - Focus on company succession
This year, the City of Hof's Economic Forum focused on the important topic of company succession in the SME sector. "These are mostly smaller and larger owner-managed or family-run SMEs, which are the mainstay of our economy, especially in Bavaria," said Mayor Eva Döhla in her welcoming address.
Business promoter Walter Friedl introduced the topic and reported on his 30-year career with the city of Hof. He has already accompanied and witnessed several company handovers and was therefore able to give the guests valuable strategic advice.
The evening focused on inspiring stories from two female entrepreneurs who reported on successful company handovers. Johanna Strunz from Lamilux Heinrich Strunz Holding GmbH und Co KG in Rehau emphasized that the handover process is not a sure-fire success, but offers a great opportunity if it succeeds. "Every succession is different in detail," she explained, adding that the parents' passion for the company and passing this passion on to the children is often the key to success. Her successful handover included a regular exchange about the goals and ideas of everyone involved, early discussions about expectations, openness and empathy in the handover process. With the support of a coach, the family managed to transfer the management of the company to Johanna Strunz, her brother and her sister.
Susanne Dick from AS Bau Hof in Hof reported on her own journey of taking over her father's construction company together with her brother - without external advice. She emphasized how much opinions and approaches can differ between the generations and that it is particularly important to enter into discussion here. External succession should also be considered at an early stage if the children do not wish to continue the business.
Florian Götz, Head of Economic Development, personally led through the evening and reported on the results of the company survey and which areas of action have emerged for the city of Hof.