The Ohlthaver & List Group (OL) celebrated their F26 OL Persona Champions of 2029 at an awards evening at Midgard on 25 September 2026, recognising employees across the Group who bring the OL Persona to life through their everyday actions and behaviours.
The awards celebrate colleagues whose authenticity, care and passion create meaningful experiences for those around them. Recognition also helps people feel seen, valued and connected to the Group. By highlighting positive contributions, the programme strengthens belonging and reinforces the behaviours of the OL Persona across the business.
Reflecting on the significance of the programme, Chief Experience Officer Franziska Rüeck said the OL Persona becomes visible through the way employees show up, treat people and shape the experiences of others. She emphasised that it is often not grand gestures, but everyday moments – how people listen, respond when something goes wrong, take ownership and choose to help – that bring the OL Persona to life.
Executive Chairman Sven Thieme told the champions: “You remind us that the future we are creating together depends on how each of us shows up every day.” He described the champions as examples of what is possible across OL and encouraged them to continue as ambassadors and custodians of the OL Persona within their operating companies, setting an example and inspiring others through the way they lead, work and show up each day.
The OL Persona Champion of 2029 is a peer-recognition programme through which employees nominate colleagues who make a positive difference to their teams, customers and the wider business. Nominations are refined and selected at operating company level before being reviewed by an independent group committee.
Each operating company selects an overall OL Persona Champion of 2029 for the financial year. Johannes Shilongo, the overall winner at Kraatz, said: “I am truly grateful and honoured to have won overall Persona Champion, thank you to my Kraatz leaders and our Heavenly Father for gracing me with the strength to go above and beyond each day!”
Nico Louw, the overall winner from OL Centre, said: “I was genuinely surprised and humbled to receive the OL Centre Persona Champion Award. What made it even more special was sharing the moment with so many inspiring colleagues at such a memorable event. For me, living the OL Persona is about caring for people, building meaningful relationships and always striving to make a positive difference. I am grateful to be part of a team that inspires me every day and I share this recognition with everyone who has been part of my journey.”
During their reigning year, each overall winner will leave a legacy through a giving-back project aligned with the Vision 2029 metrics. The project will create meaningful value for their business or community by drawing on available resources, partnerships and support. Overall winners will also take part in ‘The Thrive Experience’, a journey designed to open new perspectives, experiences and connections.
OL’s annual OL Persona survey is under way, with a goal of achieving 85% by the end of June 2029. Rüeck emphasised that the score is a measure of how deeply the OL Persona is being adopted, not the final destination. The real measure is the lasting experiences employees create for colleagues, customers and communities.
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