Grand Decoration of Honour for Johannes Michael Wareka
At a festive ceremony in the state parliament hall in St. Pölten on 8 October 2024, Dr Johannes Michael Wareka, CEO and 4th generation of the traditional family business Marzek Etiketten+Packaging, was awarded the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold by Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner for his services to the state of Lower Austria. After the Ring of Honour of the Province of Lower Austria, this is the most significant honour currently awarded.
Dr Johannes Michael Wareka is co-owner and has been Managing Director of Marzek Etiketten+Packaging since 1991. He has been CEO of the Marzek Etiketten+Packaging Group since 1993. He was already working for the family business during his business studies and created the first calculation programmes between 1975 and 1979. During his doctoral studies, he completed several internships in various European countries and programmed the first ERP system for Marzek Etiketten+Packaging. After completing his doctorate, he worked as an IT consultant in the USA from 1985 to 1986 before returning to the family business.
During his tenure, the company has developed very dynamically. It has succeeded in quadrupling its business volume and increasing its equity sixfold. In addition to numerous technological innovations, the expansion into Hungary and Ukraine in 2005 and 2009 and the construction of a further plant in Hungary, the international Marzek team has expanded and now comprises over 750 employees. A total of 190 employees work at the Traiskirchen site.
In the laudatory speech, Dr Johannes Michael Wareka's achievements for the province and the business location of Lower Austria were honoured. In particular, his pioneering work in the development of technical solutions, the many national and international awards for Marzek Etiketten und Verpackungen and his social commitment were emphasised. ‘It is a great honour for me to be awarded the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold of the Province of Lower Austria. After being named Best Family Business in Lower Austria twice in 2002 and in May 2024, this award once again recognises our achievements as the owner family and as the Marzek Etiketten+Packaging team,’ says a delighted Dr Johannes Michael Wareka. ‘I therefore accept this honour on behalf of our owner family Marzek/Schneller-Scharau/Wareka and our team of highly motivated, well-trained specialists. Our family, which is now the 5th generation to successfully manage the company, and our employees, who are fully committed to the satisfaction of our customers, make a significant contribution to the success of Marzek Etiketten+Packaging and therefore also have a share in the honour that has now been bestowed on me.’
The award of the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold is one of a number of other honours that Dr Johannes Michael Wareka has already received. In 2002, he was awarded the Hermes Prize for his outstanding entrepreneurial achievements. In 2018, he was also awarded the Knight's Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit for his services to the Hungarian printing industry. In 2023, he received the Gutenberg Award, with which the VFG (Association for Research in Graphic Media) honours a deserving personality in the print media industry every year.
Photo caption: Michael Wareka and Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner
Copyright NLK Burhhart.