DPA reported that that Wolfgang Urban, the life partner of Isabell Werth, has passed away on 6 October 2025. He was 80 years old.
Urban began his career in 1973 as a commercial clerk at retail company Kaufhof in Cologne. In 1995, he became CEO of Kaufhof Holding, where he initiated a far-reaching restructuring. A year later, he was promoted to the board of Kaufhof's parent company, Metro, as co-speaker.
Following the merger of Karstadt and Quelle, he served as CEO of the Essen-based retail group from 2000 to 2004. He resigned in 2004 citing health reason.
He was the life partner of Isabell Werth, but only made very rare appearances at horse shows. The couple met through a sponsorship deal, right before her break from trainer Uwe Schulten-Baumer. Urban and Werth have one son together, Frederik, born 30 October 2009.
Photo © Stefan Lafrentz
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