Frans van Bommel is the father of the current management and represents the eighth generation within the family business. During Frans's career, the entire Dutch shoe industry disappeared. Out of the 227 shoe factories that existed at the start of his career, only one remained when he retired.

(Image below: Frans van Bommel at age 31 among racks of half-finished women's and men's shoes, at the factory in Moergestel.)

the 227 shoe factories that existed at the start of his career, only one remained when he retired. With his commercial instinct and keen sense of marketing, Frans led the family business through this massive decline. Having shown so much energy and personal commitment, he transformed the shoe factory from a product-oriented business into a marketing-oriented company. In 2002, he passed on a completely healthy family business and a rock-solid brand to the next generation.

(Image above: After the shoe factory burned down earlier that year, Frans van Bommel, as the eldest son, laid a symbolic foundation stone at the entrance to the new factory in the summer of 1951.)