Departures of note

Eberhard Bezner was born in Stuttgart in 1935. After training as a textile and retail merchant, he joined his father Eugen Bezner's company in 1953. When his father died suddenly in 1960, the 24-year-old Bezner took over the leadership of Olymp, the family shirt manufacturer based in Bietigheim-Bissingen.

Under his direction, Olymp grew from a small post-war operation into a globally active clothing manufacturer. In the 1960s he moved part of the production abroad, a decision he defended by saying the company would not have survived otherwise. He led the firm for five decades until 2010, when his son Mark took over.

Beyond business, Bezner served for many years as a CDU member of the Bietigheim-Bissingen city council and was a devoted fan and patron of the handball Bundesliga club SG BBM Bietigheim. He died at home at the age of 90, surrounded by his family.