In an era defined by job-hopping and shifting careers, one man’s unwavering dedication has established an extraordinary benchmark for professional loyalty. Walter Orthmann, a centenarian from Brazil, has officially been certified by Guinness World Records for the Longest Career in the Same Company, having served for an astonishing 84 years and 75 days (as of his latest verification).
Mr. Orthmann, who passed away in 2024 at the age of 102, started his tenure on January 17, 1938, as a shipping assistant at a textile company in Santa Catarina, Brazil, then known as Industrias Renaux S.A. (now RenauxView). At the time, he was just 15 years old.
His incredible journey saw him rise through the ranks, first to a sales position, and eventually to a successful Sales Manager, a position he held while the company and the world underwent nine currency changes, a World War, and countless technological revolutions.
Walter Orthmann’s record-breaking career is a testament to his simple, yet profound, philosophy on work and life. When asked about the secret to his longevity and dedication, he often said:
“When we do what we like, we don’t see the time go by. I don’t do much planning, nor care much about tomorrow. All I care about is that tomorrow will be another day in which I will wake up, get up, exercise and go to work; you need to get busy with the present, not the past or the future. Here and now is what counts. So, let’s go to work!”
Having started his career before the invention of the ballpoint pen and having adapted to every seismic shift in the business world for over eight decades, Mr. Orthmann’s legacy is more than just a number. It is a powerful reminder of the value of commitment, the importance of finding passion in one’s work, and the rewards of staying curious and adaptable throughout a long life.
His story stands as an inspiring, and likely unbreakable, record of the “world’s most loyal employee.”
