Wednesday, July 8, 2026

NOWEDA: Udo Harneit to succeed Dr. Michael Kuck

NOWEDA is preparing a leadership change. Dr. Michael Kuck, 62, plans to step down as chairman of the executive board at the end of 2026 and retire. Udo Harneit, 56, currently responsible for sales on the board of the pharmacy cooperative, will take over the chairmanship in January 2027.

Handover after a decade in top management

Kuck joined NOWEDA in 2007. He initially served as a member of management and head of legal affairs, later also taking responsibility for industry relations. After being appointed to the executive board, he became chairman in 2017.

During his tenure, the company expanded significantly. According to NOWEDA, total revenue rose from 5.5 billion euros to more than 11 billion euros. The cooperative also broadened services for its member pharmacies.

One major initiative was the Zukunftspakt Apotheke. Through the IhreApotheken.de platform, local pharmacies have had access to digital infrastructure since 2019, enabling them to offer services online as well. Under Kuck, NOWEDA also strengthened its political communication on behalf of owner-managed pharmacies, using campaigns and dialogue with policymakers to highlight local medicine supply.

Supervisory board emphasizes continuity

Dr. Matthias Lempka, chairman of the supervisory board, acknowledged Kuck’s contribution, pointing to his strategic leadership and cooperation with the supervisory board. Kuck described the timing of the handover as appropriate, citing NOWEDA’s strong economic position and his long-standing collaboration with Harneit.

Harneit brings sales and market experience

Udo Harneit has been with NOWEDA since 2013. He joined as a member of management responsible for sales and marketing and was appointed sales board member in 2020. Before joining the pharmacy cooperative, the business administration graduate held management responsibilities at Plus Warenhandelsgesellschaft, among other roles.

Harneit said he intends to continue aligning the company with the needs of its members and their pharmacies. He described strengthening member pharmacies as both a cooperative mandate and a personal objective.