Carl Duhn is part of the second generation of the family-owned business and grew up surrounded by the natural stone industry. After completing a dual degree in International Business Administration at HWR Berlin and a Master’s degree in Family Entrepreneurship at Zeppelin University, he gained two years of experience in global strategic marketing at Bayer before joining BESCO in 2020. Since 2022, he has served as Commercial Director, overseeing the interfaces between Finance, HR, IT, Marketing and Sales. Today, together with Florian Geyer, he shares responsibility for the company’s operational leadership.
His focus is on preserving the strengths established by the first generation while preparing BESCO for the future through digitalisation, sustainability and continued growth. At the heart of this development is the company’s long-standing culture of collaboration. “BESCO thrives on people who understand their craft and have worked together successfully for many years. This mutual trust and the knowledge within our team are our greatest assets,” says Carl Duhn.
Managing Director Florian Geyer adds: “Carl Duhn has been closely connected to our company for many years and brings a fresh perspective on the topics that will shape BESCO’s future. Particularly in the areas of sustainability, digitalisation and organisational development, he will provide important momentum. I very much look forward to continuing to shape the company’s future together with him.”
Interview with Carl Duhn
What motivates you most about working at BESCO? Carl Duhn: BESCO is a family-owned business now entering its second generation. I grew up with the natural stone industry, so it has always been part of my life. What motivates me is helping to build a company that creates lasting value, together with a team I truly appreciate and through a product that people experience every day in public spaces. The stone we deliver today will still shape a square decades from now. That sense of permanence is something I genuinely value.
What priorities would you like to set for BESCO in the coming years? Carl Duhn: My priority is to guide this generational transition together with our team. Alongside Florian Geyer, who has shaped BESCO since its beginnings and brings decades of operational experience and close customer relationships, I want to lead the company into its next chapter. Florian contributes outstanding industry expertise and customer insight, while I bring a strong focus on finance, operational processes and long-term strategic development. Together, our goal is to preserve the trust and values established by the first generation while continuing to make BESCO more digital, more sustainable and even better positioned for the future.
Which values are particularly important to you in your new leadership role? Carl Duhn: For me, everything starts with the team. BESCO thrives on people who know their craft and have worked together successfully for many years. Their trust, experience and shared knowledge are our greatest assets. My role is to create an environment where everyone can contribute their strengths and where we focus on building something that lasts, rather than chasing short-term gains.
How do you view the current development of the natural stone industry? Carl Duhn: I think we’re seeing a real shift in mindset. Municipalities are increasingly looking beyond upfront costs and evaluating projects based on their life-cycle performance. A public square that lasts 100 years ultimately delivers far greater value than one that needs replacing after only 25 years. Climate adaptation is also making material selection a strategic decision. Heat, heavy rainfall and increasingly frequent freeze-thaw cycles are exactly where hard natural stone demonstrates its strengths. Because it absorbs very little water, it offers exceptional durability under demanding conditions. Equally important are its circularity and reusability. Natural stone can be lifted, reused and reinstalled without any chemical transformation. What our industry still needs to improve is the way we communicate these advantages. We are often better at delivering quality than explaining its value. Natural stone has a compelling story to tell. We simply need to tell it more clearly, especially as sustainability documentation becomes an increasingly important part of public procurement.
What makes BESCO and the belgrano® brand unique in the market? Carl Duhn: Focus. For many companies, natural stone is just one part of their business. For us, it is our entire business. BESCO is one of the very few specialists dedicated exclusively to natural stone solutions for public projects. That means we’re involved from the earliest planning stages, long before a project goes out to tender. With belgrano®, we combine an international range of materials with German quality standards, supported by our own inspection team working directly at production sites around the world. Our materials have helped shape places such as Marienplatz in Munich and Mercedes Platz in Berlin, and they will continue to do so for decades to come.
