C&A's founding family names its CFO as next Cofra chair | Wealth Office
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C&A's founding family names its CFO as next Cofra chair

Florian Brenninkmeyer will succeed Martijn Brenninkmeijer at the family holding company in April 2027, moving control to the sixth generation.

Bloomberg reports that the Brenninkmeijer family, which founded the C&A clothing chain in 1841, has chosen Florian Brenninkmeyer to chair Cofra Holding, the Swiss-based group that manages its business interests. He is currently Cofra's chief financial officer and will take the chair in April 2027, succeeding Martijn Brenninkmeijer, who has led the board since 2018 after serving as chief executive from 2015. Cofra confirmed the appointment in a statement, saying Florian Brenninkmeyer will step down as CFO at the end of 2026 and that his successor will be named later. He is a sixth-generation member of the family owner group, which Bloomberg notes spells the surname in more than one way.

According to Bloomberg, Cofra now oversees more than €40 billion in assets and has grown in recent years by opening its investment businesses to outside capital. Those businesses include private equity firm Bregal, property group Redevco and the asset manager Anthos.

Why it matters: Cofra is one of Europe's clearest examples of a large family business that has turned into a diversified investment group while keeping ownership inside the family. Choosing a finance executive from the next generation suggests the family wants continuity in governance as it manages a broad portfolio and external investors. The handover also shows the value of long lead times. The appointment has been announced around six months before it takes effect.

Source: Bloomberg, October 6, 2026. Wealth Office summarises reporting by other publications and links to the original.