He accepted a temporary job as a young man, and at the age of 100, he achieved the world record for the longest career at the same company
Despite the company's restructuring, they never considered getting rid of him, due to his consistency and dedication.
Walter Orthmann, a 100-year-old Brazilian textile worker, is celebrating 84 years and nine days at the same company. The remarkable milestone has been officially recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records.
What began as a teenage job has turned Orthmann into one of the world’s most striking examples of perseverance and dedication. He was just 15 when he started working in 1938 at Indústrias Renaux in Brusque, a city in northern Brazil that was already a pioneer in the textile industry.
Orthmann began his career in the company’s maritime sector, but his quick thinking and fluency in German, a widely spoken language in the region at the time, helped him advance rapidly. Over the years, he steadily climbed the ranks before moving into the sales department, where he managed agreements with the company’s most important clients.
During the celebrations marking his centenary, colleagues highlighted both his long service and his adaptability. Across eight decades, Orthmann has successfully navigated changes ranging from handwritten accounting ledgers to global supply chains and modern enterprise software.
Those who have worked alongside him describe him as a mentor who led with quiet authority, listening carefully and setting an example through his actions. His kindness and willingness to help earned widespread respect within the company, now known as RenauxView, which has continued to evolve without ever considering replacing him.
Brazilian labour laws have also played a role in Orthmann’s extraordinary tenure. The country’s public pension system sets minimum retirement ages, currently 65 for men and 62 for women, along with contribution requirements. However, drawing a pension does not oblige private-sector workers to stop working.
The situation is different in the public sector, where civil servants face mandatory retirement at 75. This distinction underlines how compulsory age limits are tied to specific public roles rather than to employment in the private sector.
Ultimately, Orthmann himself attributes his longevity at the company to a simple mindset: staying curious, continuing to learn, and genuinely enjoying the work he does.
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