For decades, Hilde Umdasch was one of the defining personalities and a pioneering figure in Austrian industry. She dedicated her life to entrepreneurship, combining strategic vision with a deep sense of responsibility toward employees, society, and future generations.
Born into the Umdasch family business, founded in 1868 as a small carpentry workshop, Hilde Umdasch joined the company in 1967 after completing studies in linguistics and business-related education. Beginning as assistant to her father Josef Umdasch, she gained experience across every area of the business and quickly became involved in leadership, training, and organizational development.
Together with her brother Alfred Umdasch and Director Ernst Röck, she helped drive the company’s transformation from an Austrian industrial enterprise into an internationally active group. Under their leadership, the company expanded far beyond Austria’s borders and laid the foundation for the global presence of today’s Umdasch Group and Doka operations in more than 70 countries.
A Pioneer for Women in Global Industry
Following the death of her father, Hilde Umdasch became Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Umdasch AG in 1990 — at a time when female leadership at the top of major international industrial companies was still exceptionally rare. She was among the first women to lead a global industrial corporation, becoming a role model for generations of female entrepreneurs and business leaders.
In 1999, she and her brother deliberately entrusted operational leadership to external management and transitioned to the supervisory board, ensuring continuity and long-term stability for the family enterprise.
Alongside her work within the Umdasch Group, Hilde Umdasch also built a successful entrepreneurial path of her own. In 1972, together with her father, she founded bellaflora, pioneering one of Austria’s first self-service garden retail concepts. Over the following decades, she developed the company into Austria’s leading garden center chain and one of the country’s most recognized retail brands.
Leadership Guided by Responsibility and Humanity
Hilde Umdasch firmly believed that entrepreneurial success must always go hand in hand with social responsibility. She advocated strongly for employee participation, fair treatment, and long-term commitment to people within the company. Her conviction that economic success should benefit employees as well as shareholders shaped her leadership philosophy throughout her career.
Her commitment extended far beyond business. She was deeply engaged in health care, education, environmental protection, and social causes. Through her support of integrative medicine initiatives and charitable projects, she consistently promoted openness, innovation, and humanity. One of her most meaningful contributions was the establishment of the “Hilde Umdasch Haus” in Amstetten, a care and hospice facility supporting seriously ill children, adolescents, and their families.
In honoring her legacy, the companies stated:
“We are not only losing our shareholder. We are losing a remarkable personality whose integrity, humanity, and values will continue to shape our corporate culture far beyond her lifetime.”
With Hilde Umdasch, Austria loses one of its most influential entrepreneurial personalities — a visionary business leader, a pioneer for women in industry, and a person whose sense of responsibility and compassion left a lasting mark on countless people.
The Umdasch Group and bellaflora extend their deepest condolences to her family, friends, and all those who had the privilege of working with and knowing her.
(dp, ps)
