Company & Management
SPH AG - Your Expert for Digital Excellence
We, SPH AG AG, a leading IT solutions company based in Sindelfingen, have stood for innovation and customer focus since 1975.
We specialise in customised IT solutions for the fashion, retail and mail order industries, supporting companies in their digital transformation – from strategy consulting to operations.
Our expertise includes the digitalisation of business processes in bimodal IT and the implementation of our industry solutions IN:FASHION and IN:OMNICHANNEL.
We take care of project management and implementation, including the operation of your systems and platforms.
Our aim is to provide maximum expertise, reliability and quality to make a measurable contribution to our customers’ success and competitiveness.
Excellence, deeply rooted in our corporate values, guides our constant endeavour to put the needs of our customers and employees at the centre of everything we do.
Management Board
The shareholders include Marondo Capital GmbH, the Management Board as well as representatives of the Supervisory Board.
The Management Board consists of the CEO, CTO, CCO and the CFO.
Detlef Beiter
Chairman of the Management Board / CEO
and Shareholder
Chairman of the Board since 1 December 2015
Areas of Responsibility Sales & Marketing, Strategic Positioning
Detlef Beiter, Diplom-Betriebswirt (graduate in business administration), has been chairman of the board and shareholder of SPH AG since the end of 2015. Before joining SPH AG, he worked for the international IT service provider Atos Origin. As a member of the executive board of Atos Origin Central Europe, he was responsible for Sales and Key Account Management. Subsequently, in his role as Managing Director, he was responsible for the German business of GFT AG. In his position as chairman of the board of ICT AG, Detlef Beiter established the company as the leading supplier of IT and media technology in Europe and developed the international business with large-scale projects. Most recently, he worked as CSO for Mackevision Medien Design GmbH in Stuttgart and excelled in achieving a strong increase in global business.
Oliver Schumacher
Member of the Board / CFO
and Shareholder
Member of the board since 1 August 2022
Areas of Responsibility Finance, Controlling and Human Resources Management
Oliver Schumacher has been a member of the board of SPH AG since 1 August 2022. Before that, he was already working for SPH AG as CFO. He is responsible for the financial department with the areas Finance, Controlling and HR. Oliver Schumacher is Diplom-Betriebswirt (FH) (graduate in business administration) and has built up extensive expertise in leading positions of renowned companies in the finance sector. These include the Hewlett Packard subsidiary CoCreate Software GmbH, PTC Parametric Technology GmbH and the drugstore chain Müller Service Ltd. & Co. KG.
Stefan Lerchenmüller
Member of the Board / CTO
and shareholder
Member of the Board since 1 December 2014
Areas of Responsibility Software Development, Service & Support, IBM i, Address Management, IT
Stefan Lerchenmüller, Diplom-Wirtschaftsingenieur (graduate in industrial engineering), has been a member of the board of SPH AG since 1 December 2014. Before that, he was already working for the company as CTO. Stefan Lerchenmüller successfully completed his studies in industrial engineering and management at the University of Karlsruhe with a diploma. Before joining SPH AG, Stefan Lerchenmüller worked from 1992 to 2001 for bowi GmbH, a leading manufacturer of CRM systems. In his role as managing director, he was responsible for the Development Division. From 2002 to 2010, he worked as Head of Software Development for SPH AG and was responsible for the development of the ERP software SPH-Direct. Between 2010 and 2013, Stefan Lerchenmüller was Director of Software Development EMEA, for Frontrange Solution, a world-leading supplier of DSM/SAM. He was in charge of the entire development for Europe and played a key role in the company’s strategic realignment and turnover increase.
Eduard Vinokurov
Member of the Board / CCO
and Shareholder
Member of the Board since 1 June 2023
Area of Responsibility Consulting
Since 1 February 2021, Eduard Vinokurov has been CCO of SPH AG. As a member of the management board, he is responsible for the Consulting Business area. Eduard Vinokurov is Diplom-Mathematiker (graduate in mathematics). In addition, he studied medical informatics in Heidelberg. He has long-time experience and in-depth expertise in the fields of digitalisation, e-commerce and omnichannel. For 13 years, he worked for diconium GmbH and, among other posts, he held the position of Director Business Development. Before joining SPH AG, he was head of Zeitfracht digital at Zeitfracht GmbH for seven years. He was responsible for e-commerce and digital business and worked with topics related to AI and Big Data.
Supervisory Board
Dr. Stefan Elßer
Chairman of the Supervisory Board
Stefan Elßer is a PhD economist and studied in Tübingen (Germany) and Eugene (Oregon, USA). He has been involved in small company financing since 1993. Stefan started his carrier at KfW Group structuring public financing programs for venture & private equity in the early days of this industry in Germany.
In 1998 he moved to TH (Technology Holding), one of the most successful VC-investors in Germany. When 3i Group acquired TH in 2000, he was head of the TH-office in Stuttgart. After the takeover of TH by 3i Group in 2000, Stefan Elßer first became Local Director in Frankfurt and from 2002, together with Hansjörg Ruof, was responsible for the German Portfolio Team (GPT).
He was also Managing Director of a number of 3i investment vehicles and a member of the German management board. In these roles, he successfully made a significant contribution to the liquidity and profitability of 3i Germany in a difficult economic environment following the new market crisis.
In 2008, Stefan Elßer left 3i to form BBP – Advisory, Participation, Portfolio Management with Hansjörg Ruof. This partnership specialises in supporting and advising various investors in portfolio management. The focus is on value creation, preservation and realisation. Stefan Elßer has also temporarily taken over the management of a number of SMEs, gaining extensive operational management experience.
In his leisure time, Stefan Elßer enjoys reading good literature, playing the piano and sports with his family.
Klaus-Dieter Laidig, Senator E.h.
Vice Chairman of the Supervisory Board and Shareholder
Since 1997, Klaus-Dieter Laidig, Dipl.-Betriebswirt (FH) (graduate in business administration), has been Managing Partner of Laidig Business Consulting GmbH, a consulting company specialising in the high tech industry in Europe and the USA. Between 1967 and 1997, Klaus-Dieter Laidig worked for Hewlett-Packard Europe. In the 1980s and 1990s, he played a key role in the growth and expansion of Hewlett-Packard’s computer system business in Europe. From 1984 to 1997, he was also Managing Director of Hewlett-Packard Germany. Klaus-Dieter Laidig is a member of several supervisory boards in Germany and in the USA. Since 2007, Klaus-Dieter Laidig has been honorary senator at the University of Stuttgart.
Hansjörg Ruof
Hansjörg Ruof holds a degree in engineering and obtained a second degree in economics from the University in Munich. Coming from an entrepreneurial family background, he has always been involved with small- and medium-sized businesses.
Starting as a consultant in a Roland Berger subsidiary specializing in mid-sized companies, he became a private equity manager, first with BayBG and later with Technology Holding (TH), one of the most eminent technology investors in Germany. Following the acquisition of TH by the 3i Group, Hansjörg Ruof became Investment Director at 3i Germany in Stuttgart. In this role he invested in a number of technology companies and successfully exited investments via IPOs, trade sales and secondaries.
Hansjörg Ruof and Stefan Elßer were responsible for running 3i’s German portfolio team from 2005 until 2008 with more than 130 companies. Both set up a sophisticated portfolio management system and contributed significant proceeds to 3i´s German investment business in what is today the largest sales process in German private equity.
Together with Stefan Elßer, Hansjörg Ruof was responsible for the German Portfolio Team (GPT) of 3i. This team managed over 130 investments between 2003 and 2008. Together they developed a versatile portfolio management system, on the basis of which they made a significant contribution to liquidity and earnings for 3i Germany.
In his spare time, Hansjörg Ruof is a keen equestrian and enjoys outdoor activites. Hansjörg Ruof has managed many deals covering the complete life cycle of investments in the private equity industry. He has a wealth of experience in investments and portfolio management, including restructurings, additional funding and the preparation and execution of exits. Realized exits include IPOs (CAA and Nanogate), trade sales (Interbrand Pro, CoCreate and Rodcraft), as well as secondary buyouts and multi-case secondary transactions.
In 2008, Hansjörg Ruof founded BBP – Consulting, Participation, Portfolio Management – together with Stefan Elßer. The partnership is based on the idea of providing close, hands-on support to shareholders in portfolio management and to management in creating and realising corporate value. As part of BBP mandates, Hansjörg Ruof has taken on various board and advisory functions as well as operational management in some cases. He has led companies on a successful growth path or secured value as part of a successful turnaround.
Hansjörg Ruof has been very active in the private equity and VC industry for over twenty years and has an extensive network.
Dr. Thomas Frohnmayer
Dr. Thomas Frohnmayer is a lawyer and partner at the law firm Hennerkes, Kirchdörfer & Lorz who specialise in conceptional consulting of family businesses. His main focus of activity is on succession planning, restructuring, corporate transactions, corporate financing and foundation solutions.
In addition, Dr. Frohnmayer is a member of supervisory boards and advisory councils for several companies.
