Early Life
Eric Wittouck was born on October 5, 1946, into a distinguished Belgian family. He is a descendant of the Seven Noble Houses of Brussels. His parents were Jonkheer André-Michel Wittouck and Princess Hélène Sherbatow. In his thirties, Wittouck inherited the Tiense Suiker fortune, becoming a major shareholder in the family-run business, which was founded by his ancestors. He graduated from Solvay Brussels School of Economics.
Rise to Success
In the 1980s, Wittouck demonstrated strategic acumen by selling Tiense Suiker to Südzucker, a German sugar conglomerate, for $1.5 billion. This marked the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey. The proceeds from the sale were reinvested through Artal Group.
Key Business Strategies
Wittouck's investment strategy involved leveraging his capital through the New York private equity firm Invus, managed by Ray Debbane. Invus achieved significant returns through investments in Weight Watchers and Blue Buffalo Pet Products. He acquired the diet company Weight Watchers in 1999 for over $700 million, a move that proved lucrative. His decision to remain fully invested in Invus has been one of his greatest investment decisions.
Philanthropy
Information on Eric Wittouck's philanthropy is limited, with no specific amounts or initiatives readily available in the search results.