In 2020 RMIG (Danish company) and MEVACO (German company) merged their activities in a joined company to be owned by RMIG. Both companies are among the leaders in Europe within perforated and expanded metals used in the construction, industrial equipment and in the food industries. IESF Denmark and IESF Germany supported RMIG in identifying a new Managing Director for MEVACO. The greatest challenge of this MD would be the transition from an owner-managed company to a business unit of an international group of companies. In this joined interview with Stephan Löw, Managing Partner at TOPOS Personalberatung and Pia Torreck, Equity Partner at Ingvardsen. You’ll read more on the main objectives of the search and the challenges they faced in this international project.
Pia Torreck: “The project started with an intensive meeting with Ole Dahl from Ingvardsen, who has known the client (RMIG A/S) in Denmark and the managers responsible for the project (CEO, CFO) for a long time from personal collaboration. The merger resulted in a combined group which would be the largest within its field with sales of EUR ~180m and more than 800 employees across Europe. As merged companies they benefit from complementary product segments and geographic market positions and will together offer a stronger proposition to a wider customer base. A challenging period for MEVACO that was always family owned before the merger. The corporate culture was in a state of flux at the time of the assignment. After 20 years of management by a personal owner, the company was integrated into a Danish group of companies. Until then, the culture had been familiar and appreciative, but with a focus on the owner.” Stephan Löw: “We set up a successful kick-off meeting between RMIG A/S and TOPOS and they awarded the assignment to us. From the very beginning, the cooperation between TOPOS and the top management of RMIG A/S was very trusting, pleasant, and appreciative. So, we were able to shape this process together not only as a head-hunter, but also as a real consultant and partner. After the search was agreed upon, the entire project ran between the client in Denmark and TOPOS in Germany. In parallel, there was a regular exchange between IESF Germany and Denmark, so everyone was informed about the project status, which was especially important because of their close ties to the client.”
Stephan Low: “The staffing was done by direct search, and we focused on candidates from the region of Southwest Germany, the headquarters of the German company. The challenge in this project was to find a suitable Managing Director (m/f/d) who would successfully manage the integration into the Danish group of companies and have the necessary sensitivity to give the German organization the confidence in the future of the company after such a long period of management by a personal owner. At the same time, the new MD should also form the executives into a functioning management team to ensure more coordination and synergies between the various divisions. The business units and their Division Managers (production, sales, finance, HR) used to operate more in silos with a direct reporting line to the former owner.” Pia Torreck adds: “We searched for a General Manager who could focus on the continuous further development of processes and systems in order not to lose market share in the meantime and to radiate stability to employees and customers.”
Stephan Löw: “We personally guided all the interviews. We were there as consultants in the 1st round of interviews with the candidates via teams as well as in the 1st personal meetings. The hired candidate brings with him a good combination of international group and medium-sized company experience, with an optimal combination of strategic competence and implementation strength. At the same time, we were convinced that with his calm and level-headed personality he would quickly succeed in winning over the management team as well as the employees. Especially as the successor to an extroverted owner with a strong personality. This has now been successfully confirmed.”
Pia Torreck: “As already described, the cooperation between Germany and Denmark is characterized by a high level of professionalism, trust, appreciation, and friendship.” And Stephan adds: Out of this 1st cross-border project with RMIG A/S, further projects in Germany with the company have developed in the meantime. We are also partner in headhunting for the German subsidiary MEVACO and the Managing Director we have filled. A perfect success story!”
More information on MEVACO and RMIG you can find in the official press release on the merger.
