Werner Otto, founder of the mail-order company Otto and the shopping center development company ECE, has died. He passed away on 21 December at the age of 102 in the presence of his family in Berlin.

Werner Otto was one of the last living post-war trade pioneers, who had considerable influence on the Federal Republic's economic, socio-political and social development, ECE said in a statement.

Alexander Otto, the youngest son of Werner Otto and chief executive officer of ECE, added: 'My father was a real visionary, who was fortunate enough to be able to realise his ideas in good health and with thirst for action and who was often successful in doing so - whether with the Otto group, ECE or other activities in the USA. But most of all, he was a good father who always inspired and encouraged me.'

Werner Otto was born on 13 August 1909 in Seelow (Margraviate of Brandenburg), Germany, as son of a merchant. He moved with his family as a refugee to Hamburg after the Second World War. There, he founded his first shoe company.

Then Otto had the idea that changed his life: selling shoes produced by others through a mail-order business. The company was established with start-up capital of 6,000 Deutsche Mark and four employees. It grew to become the largest mail-order group in the world.

In 1965 Werner Otto established ECE, which is now one of the leading development, construction, and management company for shopping centres in Europe. Alexander Otto took over the management of ECE in 2000.