"Building a brand isn't just art — it's alchemy. Every bold choice, every daring detail forged together until something legendary emerges."
- Jan-Patrick Schmitz
Our Founder
Jan-Patrick has spent his career falling in love with things made by hand — and helping the people who make them build something lasting. That instinct is what led him to found Muirbury & Company, a firm built around a simple belief: the best consumer brands are not manufactured, they are nurtured. By partnering with family offices, strategic investors, venture and growth-stage firms, and private equity funds, Muirbury & Co. helps product-centric companies grow into the kind of brands people seek out — ones defined by craftsmanship, quality, and genuine design integrity.
It is a belief shaped by more than twenty years inside some of the world's most storied luxury houses. At Montblanc, Jan-Patrick was part of the global leadership team that took a wholesale-only German pen maker and turned it into a billion-dollar brand sold in over seventy countries — expanding into watches, jewelry, leather goods, fragrance, and eyewear, and proving along the way that heritage and growth are not opposites. He later led the Wüsthof Group as CEO and Chairman of the Management Board, and chaired the Steiff Group, the German toymaker behind the original Teddy bear. Today he serves as Chairman of the Board of John Hardy, the jewelry house born in the artisan villages of Bali, where sustainability has been a guiding value since its founding.
That same appreciation for craft shows up across his board and advisory work — as an independent director of Timeless Wine Co., home to Silver Oak, Twomey, and Ovid; as a board member of Polywood, a leader in sustainable outdoor living products; and as an advisor to Thornwillow Press, whose books find their way into institutions like the White House, The Morgan Library, and The Vatican.
Beyond the boardroom, Jan-Patrick has shared what he has learned as a guest lecturer at Harvard Business School, Columbia, NYU, and the Fashion Institute of Technology, and has long supported arts and youth organizations, including Urban Arts Partnership and The 24-Hour Plays. He holds a BA in International Business from IBS, Germany, and an MBA from Southern Illinois University, where he was recognized by Beta Gamma Sigma for academic excellence.
At Muirbury & Co., he brings all of it together — a lifelong respect for the people who make things well, and a track record of helping them build brands that last.
Where the Making Matters ™
We believe the world deserves better than ordinary.
For too long, the relentless march of standardization has quietly stripped away what makes products, services, and experiences truly meaningful. When design is disconnected from production, when efficiency trumps soul, and when big data reduces human creativity to the lowest common denominator — something vital is lost. We refuse to accept that.
We are driven by a different vision. One where craft matters. Where intention lives in every detail. Where the human hand, mind, and spirit are not obstacles to progress — but the very definition of it.
A new economy is emerging — one built not on mass production, but on mastery. The artisan economy is alive and thriving, weaving craft-like qualities into the food we savour, the spaces we inhabit, the places we work, and the experiences that stay with us long after the moment has passed.
This is where we stand. As champions of maker brands, we exist to shine a light on the creators, the makers, and the visionaries who dare to do things differently. We develop sustainable, beautifully designed, and thoughtfully crafted products that don't just serve a purpose — they tell a story.
Because we believe that brands and products should do more than perform. They should surprise you. Delight you. Move you.
Our values
Everything we do is also driven by something beyond just profit — it is driven by principle. Our values are not hanging on a wall; they are embedded in every decision, every action, and every relationship we build.
Craft
Craft not only supports an idea, it can strip it back to reveal its simplicity and intelligence. It requires persistence and the products created by the brands stand out in today's world of standardized and non-descript commodities.
Design
Good design matters. It is an integral part of a brand and creates a lasting relationship with the user. We believe that design and manufacturing must be closely linked with design being the leading force.
Sustainability
We focus on sustainable development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. By managing sustainability, our companies improve processes, pursue growth, and add value to their corporation rather than focusing on reputation alone.
Transparency
Transparency produces trust. It starts with people. Transparency is one of those subtle things that can make a dramatic impact on a business. It will impact the bottom line but that is not the sole objective. The point is that it helps everyone do business better – our brands, their people and their clients.
