Ordre National du Mérite: Oliver Hermes Receives French National Order of Merit
The French Ambassador to Germany, François Delattre (left), awarded the insignia of the Ordre national du Mérite at a ceremony in Berlin and honoured Oliver Hermes as a champion of Franco-German friendship and the European project. (Image source: Ambassade de France en Allemagne / MU)
The Ordre national du Mérite is one of the highest orders of merit in France and is rarely awarded to foreigners.
“I am both touched and proud to receive this honour,” said Oliver Hermes at the award ceremony at the French embassy. “I see the National Order of Merit as an honour, but also as an obligation to continue working for strong political, economic and social ties between France and Germany. I would like to sincerely thank the French Ambassador to Germany and the President of the French Republic for the trust they have placed in me.”
“The Franco-German relationship is the foundation upon which we have built a free and united Europe,” explains François Delattre. “Oliver Hermes has distinguished himself as an entrepreneur, essayist and private individual through his contributions both to Franco-German relations and to the realisation of the European project. I would like to thank Oliver Hermes for his commitment and am delighted to be able to award him the insignia of the National Order of Merit,” said the French ambassador.
Oliver Hermes has been a member of the Executive Board and President & Global CEO of the Wilo Group since 2006. Today, Hermes, who is also Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Wilo-Foundation, is the fifth generation to take up management of the 153-year-old water technology company. Two of the 16 Green Fabs worldwide – the Group’s main production sites – are located in France, in Laval and Aubigny. Under the leadership of Oliver Hermes, the sites underwent significant further development and the French brand Salmson was successfully integrated into the Wilo Group.
The current Wilo CEO spent several extended periods abroad in France, one of which was to study at the University of Angers; in addition to German, English and Chinese, he also speaks French. As an essayist, Oliver Hermes regularly adopts a public stance on current issues, including European economic and industrial policy. His articles are published in independent leading media such as Handelsblatt, FAZ and Le Monde.
The Ordre national du Mérite is formally awarded by the President of the French Republic as Grand Master of the Order and honours people who have provided special political, economic, cultural, scientific and social services to France. It was established by Charles de Gaulle in 1963. The order consists of five classes; Oliver Hermes is honoured with the knighthood (Chevalier).
Source: WILO SE
