Laura Peters
CEO, Jockel Brandschutztechnik Service GmbH — Germany
CEO, Jockel Brandschutztechnik Service GmbH — Germany
Jockel Brandschutztechnik Service, one of Germany's leading fire safety companies, was founded in 1999 by Laura's father, Karsten Peters. Laura worked part-time in the family business during her studies, and joined the management team when she graduated in 2016.
"I had worked at Jockel throughout my studies, so I knew the company well, and when my father suddenly passed away, I decided to take over at the age of 29. We were approached by more than 20 companies who were interested in buying Jockel, but the timing wasn't right. Obviously, it was a difficult decision; I had not planned to take over at that time, but with our amazing company spirit, we made the best of the situation, and I think we did very well," says Laura Peters.
Jockel's aim has always been to be a full-service provider in fire safety. Today, the company has more than 450 employees in 11 locations across Germany and provides services to customers nationwide. Laura sees particular opportunity in effective extinguishing solutions for lithium-ion batteries, as the market for electric mobility grows.
"Presto was one of the many companies that approached us in 2020, however we decided to turn down all offers. Presto approached us differently, on a more personal level. So, in 2023, I was ready to hear what Presto had to offer, and their story was so convincing that I actually started to think about it. They had decided to become European champion and needed a platform in Germany," says Laura Peters.
Jockel Brandschutztechnik Service is strong in fire safety, but had no first aid or training division of its own. When recently approached by a customer asking for first aid services, the company was able to help — with the assistance of Presto in Denmark.