DATAGROUP Founder Max Schaber Receives M&A Lifetime Achievement Award for IT Services Market Consolidation

The Federal Association for Mergers & Acquisitions (BMA) has honored Max Schaber, founder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of DATAGROUP, with the M&A Award for Lifetime Achievement. This recognition underscores the critical importance of long-term M&A strategies for sustainable business success and provides valuable insights for HR vendors serving the technology sector.

The M&A Award, established in 2023, has rapidly become a significant platform for companies and consultants in the mergers and acquisitions sector. The annual ceremony in Berlin aims to highlight successful, innovative, and sustainable transactions while promoting best practices within the industry. Awards are presented across ten categories that evaluate criteria including strategic relevance, economic success, degree of innovation, and sustainability considerations.

Schaber received the lifetime achievement recognition for his exceptional commitment and pioneering work in mergers and acquisitions. Since DATAGROUP's initial public offering in 2006, the company has successfully acquired and integrated more than 30 companies into its overall organization. Through its consistently pursued buy and turn around and buy and build strategies, DATAGROUP has made a substantial contribution to the consolidation of the German IT services market, demonstrating how strategic acquisition approaches can reshape industry landscapes.

What makes DATAGROUP's approach particularly noteworthy for HR professionals is the company's emphasis on preserving acquired companies, their customer relationships, and their service portfolios. This methodology not only strengthens the corporate group's overall performance but also provides employees of acquired companies with long-term secure career perspectives. The company's acquisition strategy is especially notable for its optimal integration of new companies, offering a model for how mergers can succeed while maintaining workforce stability.

Schaber emphasized that the award represents not only a personal honor but also recognition of DATAGROUP's many dedicated employees. Their commitment, expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit have positioned DATAGROUP as one of Germany's leading IT service companies. The organization's success in the M&A sector stems from partnership thinking, sustainable integration practices, and the fundamental belief that people remain at the center of every transformation initiative.

DATAGROUP currently employs approximately 3,700 professionals across multiple German locations who design, implement, and operate IT infrastructures and business applications. Through its CORBOX product, the company functions as a full-service provider supporting global IT workplaces for medium and large enterprises as well as public sector authorities. The organization continues to pursue growth through both organic expansion and strategic acquisitions, actively participating in the ongoing consolidation process within Germany's IT services industry.

Schaber's career exemplifies responsible and future-oriented acquisition policies that successfully combine economic strength with social responsibility considerations. This recognition highlights how strategic M&A approaches can effectively drive market consolidation while maintaining focus on employee welfare and sustainable business practices, providing valuable lessons for HR vendors navigating similar industry transformations.