WE-EF welcomes Thiemo Cordes as new CEO begrüßt Thiemo Cordes als neuen CEO
A changeover at luminaire manufacturer WE-EF on 1 July 2022 – predecessor Mario Dreismann assumes management role within the Fagerhult Group
On 1 July 2022 a new CEO, Mr. Thiemo Cordes, took the reins at the WE-EF Group, a supplier for outdoor lighting solutions headquartered in Bispingen, Germany. Mr. Cordes is a highly accomplished, business-minded leader with a technical background and many years of international experience. He will continue to work closely with his predecessor Mr. Mario Dreismann, as the previous CEO is staying loyal to the Fagerhult Group and is now responsible for the Group’s “Collection” Division, which comprises the iGuzzini, LED Linear and Atelje Lyktan brands in addition to WE-EF.
Mr. Cordes is taking the helm at WE-EF as a proven expert for the efficient implementation of strategic decisions in the fields of organisation and production. Mr. Cordes, who holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and completed an MBA (Master of Business Administration) programme in the United States of America, has a proven track record in these areas in his successful career to date in the automotive supply industry. His roles have included Head of Electronics Sales at Hella, and in 2012 he joined Benecke-Kaliko, a company belonging to the Continental Group. There he gathered extensive global management experience, which included setting up and managing production facilities in China.
Back home in Lower Saxony, the son of a Hanover businessman was attracted by the prospect of taking over leadership as CEO of WE-EF, a company with strong small business roots and a family spirit, which operates globally and as an independent brand within the Fagerhult Group. It is a task with a great deal of responsibility, yet with plenty of freedom to act and shape the Group.
“I believe that WE-EF has an excellent position in its core competence – lighting technology – as a global brand and as regards the important issue of sustainability,” Mr. Cordes says. Good communication and delivering results are among his top priorities. He focuses on operations excellence – modern organisation and production methods for even more efficient operation closer to national and international markets in future.
Mr. Cordes also sees a further challenge in the competition for qualified personnel: “We want WE-EF to be seen as an attractive employer offering good career opportunities at its sites and beyond.” This also places a focus on the systematic development and promotion of talented young people within the Group.
Born in 1974, Mr. Cordes is married and has two children.