Date: 12 January 2012
Smith as president of Häfele America Company, the company’s North American subsidiary. Smith succeeds John Hossli who is retiring as president after serving in that role since 1999. Smith will oversee all company operations in the United States.
“We believe Paul’s 25 years of proven management experience combined with his expertise in architectural interiors, engineering and solutions will lead Häfele America toward continued growth and success,” said Sibylle Thierer, CEO and President, Häfele Group. “His expertise, passion and leadership also make Paul extremely well suited to contribute to the expanding Häfele global enterprise.”
Smith joined Häfele in mid-2011 after a successful career at Haworth, Inc. where he served as vice president, directly responsible for all North American products and the development of the company’s global product portfolio. Smith’s previous experience at Haworth included executive positions in the company’s architectural interiors and wood businesses. Prior to Haworth, Smith served in management positions with General Electric Company and Whirlpool Corporation.
“I’m excited to have this opportunity to join the Häfele family,” said Smith. “With its rich heritage of innovation, Häfele is truly a unique organization. I’m looking forward to providing leadership in the industry and helping Häfele continue to grow.”
Häfele has provided high quality hardware products and services to the furniture, cabinet and architectural industries since its founding in 1923 by Adolf Häfele. Today, Häfele has offices in 46 countries around the world, all aimed at bringing functionality and quality to its customers.
Smith will be the third to lead the U.S. subsidiary which was formed in 1973 by Wolfgang Häfele. He graduated with a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from The Ohio State University and earned his MBA from Tiffin University in 1995.
About Häfele
Häfele [HAY fell leh] is a leading worldwide supplier of furniture and architectural hardware components that improve the functionality of cabinets, doors, kitchens, bathrooms and other living and working environments. Decorative hardware, opening and closing mechanisms for doors and drawers, LED lighting, furniture fittings and electronic locking systems are but a few of the essential items Häfele provides to manufacturers, architects, designers, contractors and construction professionals in more than 150 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.hafele.com.
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