Visable Announces New CEO to Continue Company’s Growth
On Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025, Visable, the parent company of B2B marketplaces wer liefert was (wlw) and europages, announced that Patrick Sostmann will take over as CEO from current leader Peter F. Schmid. The change in leadership, effective January 1, 2026, reflects the company’s continuous development and strong partnership with Alibaba.com.
Peter F. Schmid has been at the helm of Visable for over 13 years, transforming the company from a traditional German business directory to an internationally active digital enterprise. Under his leadership, the company has seen significant growth, with the most recent milestone being Alibaba.com’s majority shareholding in 2023. With this change in leadership, Schmid is confident that the company is well-positioned for continued success.
Kuo Zhang, President of Alibaba.com, praised Schmid’s contributions, stating, “Under the leadership of Peter F. Schmid, Visable has developed into a strong digital B2B brand in Europe. His strategic vision and commitment were crucial to the successful integration into the international Alibaba.com network. We thank him sincerely for his achievements and wish him all the best for the future.”
Schmid himself expressed gratitude for his time at Visable, saying, “The past 13 years have been an extraordinary entrepreneurial journey – from the transformation of a directory to an international enterprise with a digital portfolio. I would like to thank Kuo Zhang and Alibaba.com for the trust they have placed in me and my team. Together, we have led Visable to a strong position for the future.”
The new CEO, Patrick Sostmann, will serve as both CEO of the Visable Group and General Manager Western Europe at Alibaba.com. He brings extensive experience to the role, having previously served as Chief Sales Officer at Visable. Sostmann is committed to driving the company’s success and positioning wer liefert was (wlw) and europages as leading, intelligently networked platforms in the European B2B environment.
In cooperation with Alibaba.com, Sostmann and his team will focus on expanding the B2B marketplaces into European market leaders in digital B2B business. Kuo Zhang has expressed confidence in Sostmann’s leadership, stating, “Patrick Sostmann is exactly the right person to lead Visable into the next phase of AI-driven B2B marketplaces. With his experience, vision, and leadership skills, he will further strengthen the successful collaboration between Visable and Alibaba.com.”
Visable, founded in 1995, has been helping small and medium-sized businesses increase their online reach and optimize their digital sales with smart online marketing opportunities. The company employs over 400 people at its locations in Hamburg, Berlin, Münster, Paris, Madrid, Milan, and Hangzhou. Visable is the umbrella brand for the brands wer liefert was (wlw) and europages and continues to expand its B2B marketplaces and online marketing services.
For more information about Visable and its services, visit www.visable.com.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.