We mourn the loss of Gerhard Schick.

Bechtle’s co-founder, long-time Chair of the Executive Board, later Chair of the Supervisory Board, and anchor shareholder.

Gerhard Schick passed away on 4 March 2025, just two months shy of his 85th birthday. With his passing, we have lost an exceptional entrepreneur.

Growing up in post-war Germany, Gerhard Schick learned at an early age what it means to take responsibility. Working on his parents’ farm instilled in him a deep sense of discipline, pragmatism and determination—values that would guide him throughout his life.

In 1982, as an experienced entrepreneur with the Bott Group, Gerhard Schick was looking for a modern software solution for the company’s cinema operations. A collaboration with Professor Klaus von Jahn of Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences soon followed, leading to the founding of Bechtle in 1983, alongside newly graduated engineer, Ralf Klenk. What began as a regional IT systems integrator flourished under the joint leadership of Gerhard Schick and Ralf Klenk.

In a way few could match, Gerhard Schick balanced pragmatism with entrepreneurial risk, pairing meticulous attention to detail with a bold vision for the future. As early as 1988, he and Ralf Klenk set the course for an IPO in 2000, targeting revenues of 100 million Deutschmarks. Gerhard Schick led by example, setting high expectations—first and foremost for himself.

Guided by an unwavering moral compass, he established principles that continue to define Bechtle today. Among them is a decentralised community—a structure that unites independently managed companies with the strength of a powerful company group. Gerhard Schick placed great trust in others, valued direct and honest communication, and firmly believed that individuals make the difference—both within a company and in society. Under his leadership, Bechtle became a leading IT company in Europe.

When he stepped down as CEO in 2004 to become Chair of the Supervisory Board, he remained deeply engaged as a strategic visionary. Just one a year later, in recognition of his achievements as an entrepreneur and his commitment to society, then-Federal President Horst Köhler awarded him the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. At the ceremony in Schwäbisch Hall, near his hometown of Gaildorf, he took the opportunity to remind politicians never to lose sight of their long-term vision for the country.

After retiring from the Supervisory Board, he deliberately stepped away from the public eye. He was not one for the spotlight—he was a man of action, a firm believer in a handshake as a binding agreement. His word carried weight, and his commitment to his company never wavered. To this day the Schick family remains an anchor shareholder, holding around 35 per cent of Bechtle shares.

In September 2024, Gerhard Schick received the CRN Channel Award for his life’s work. His daughter, Karin Schick, accepted the award on his behalf, saying: “I see this award as a tribute to an extraordinary entrepreneurial achievement and a remarkable lifetime of work, and as a recognition of a company I am deeply proud of—one that continues to uphold my father’s core values to this day.”

With determination, pragmatism and foresight, Gerhard Schick wrote one of the most impressive success stories in Germany’s IT industry. His visionary thinking, integrity and values will continue to shape Bechtle for years to come.

We will honour his legacy.