November 8, 1957 – May 7, 2024
With profound sadness, Stiebel Eltron USA announces the passing of its founder and president, Frank Stiebel.
Born November 8th, 1957 in Göttingen, Germany, Frank came to Massachusetts in 1981 to study architecture and design at Hampshire College. After his daughter was born, Frank made Northampton, Massachusetts his permanent home. In 1990 he established Stiebel Eltron, Inc, the U.S. division of the company his father founded in Germany in 1924, to bring the brand’s world-renowned products and unrelenting focus on quality, innovation, and customer service to the western hemisphere. Over the years, Frank grew Stiebel Eltron USA to 46 employees, establishing a strong category presence, including category leadership, throughout the U.S., Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
While running Stiebel Eltron USA, Frank continued as co-owner of the family-owned Stiebel Eltron Group. He was a member of the Supervisory Board of the Stiebel Eltron Group, constantly working on the strategic orientation of the company worldwide to create renewable energy products.
Frank was quirky, thoughtful, and philanthropic, with a dry but hilarious sense of humor. He embodied an interesting mix of business professionalism and down to earth practicality — attributes that served him well while he championed Stiebel Eltron USA in particular, and Stiebel Eltron world-wide, as the more intelligent, more sustainable alternative. Frank was passionate about many things, including zeppelins, alternative energy, sci-fi, and psychedelic music. Frank is profoundly missed by his loving family, friends, and staff—many of whom with long-standing, decades-long relationships.
The Board of Directors of the worldwide Stiebel Eltron Group, in concert with Frank’s wishes, appointed Mr. Jonathan Walsh, previously vice president, to the role of president. Having worked closely with Frank for many years, Jonathan is committed to advancing the goals and continuing the values established under Frank’s leadership.
A history of excellence
Stiebel Eltron was founded in 1924 by Dr. Theodor Stiebel in Berlin, Germany. Initially, the company concentrated on the manufacture of electric water heaters for the German market. In the decades that followed, Stiebel Eltron branched out into additional products, and markets grew steadily. Today, Stiebel Eltron is the largest manufacturer of water heaters in Germany.
› View a complete timeline of Stiebel Eltron's history
The tradition continues
Stiebel Eltron is known for high quality, well engineered products. The primary focus in product development has been on products that use less energy, are much safer, and give the consumer higher levels of comfort.
This philosophy is still very much evident at Stiebel Eltron today. Stiebel Eltron is regarded as a very successful company in the environmental control and system sector of the industry.
The sales and service operation for the Western Hemisphere is located in West Hatfield, Massachusetts where Stiebel Eltron maintains a sales, service, distribution, and spare parts facility. The operation has been located in North America since 1980.
Stiebel Eltron employs more than 6,000 people worldwide. The company has manufacturing plants in Holzminden, Eschwege, Freudenberg, and Hameln, Germany; Arvika, Sweden; Poprad, Slovakia; Ayutthaya, Thailand; Tianjin, China; and Hatfield, Mass. and Sarasota, Fla., U.S.A.