Hafele India gets a new captain in Frank Schloeder

Mumbai : On the occasion of its 20th year as a totally owned subsidiary of the International Hafele Group (headquartered in Germany), Hafele India, undergoes a substantial personnel shift. Mr. Jurgen Wolf has decided to retire and pass the reins of the Hafele Group in South Asia (including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, and Nepal) to Mr. Frank Schloeder on February 1, 2023. Mr. Wolf has over 21 years of experience in this role.

Hafele India’s new CEO will be continuing the firm’s long-held promise to be “future ready” as the company prepares to boldly step into the future. Mr. Schloeder has been trained extensively over the past few months, first at the company’s headquarters in Nagold (Germany) and subsequently by Mr. Wolf in the unique setting of the South Asian region. With careful planning over the past two months, our now-retired MD, Mr. Jurgen Wolf, handed over the keys of management on January 31, 2023.

making way for the future

Mr. Wolf’s passion lies in expanding into new areas, and he has used this drive to transform the Indian Subsidiary into a full-fledged Interiors Specialist serving multiple regions. By his extensive trade connections and the establishment of an exclusive Hafele Franchise, he has played a key role in expanding Hafele’s reach across South Asia over the past two decades and a half. In 2001, he began with a team of 10 people; today, he has grown that number to over 1500, all of whom bring unique skills to the table in service of the company’s many clients.

Hafele India, under his savvy direction, has successfully adapted its product and service offerings to the consumption pattern and lifestyles of South Asia by identifying the region’s specific needs and preferences and providing solutions that meet those demands. Altius FS Hobs, which are fully sealed to reduce seepage (a common issue in Indian homes), Terra Quartz Surfaces, which feature a spectrum of modern colours and textures, Hafele’s Space Square Transformable Furniture Fittings Range, which effectively increases usable space, and services like Meister, which provides full installation of Hafele’s technical products by certified professionals, are all direct results of this trend. In addition to previously available high-end products, the Hafele India store also carries premium and inexpensive premium lines that are true to the company’s ethos.

Mr. Wolf said this about his replacement: “After working closely with Frank for the previous 2-3 months, I have learned that we share extremely similar outlooks and value sets and, in essence, are quite comparable people. We think he’s the best person to steer the ship, and I can’t wait to see what the future contains.

Shaping a formidable future

Having more than 25 years of experience with the BMW Group (a German multinational manufacturer of luxury vehicles and motorcycles), Mr. Frank Schloeder, the current Managing Director of Hafele South Asia, holds a truly international career spanning across different countries like Germany, France and India. He carries a dual degree in International Studies in Business Administration from University of Munster, Germany and Montpellier Business School, France.

He has had the good fortune of gaining experience in different fields including Marketing and Sales, Product Management, Business Planning, Strategy and Operations giving him a comprehensive business understanding. Mr. Schloeder, with his vast experience, has been instrumental in unlocking market potentials, developing strong business strategies, exploring new revenue channels and building strategic brand presence and sales in emerging markets for the automobile giant. During his 4-year stint in India (through his earlier organization), first as Director-Marketing and later as President, Mr. Schloeder was able to understand the unique nuances of the Indian culture and device be-fitting strategies for this market and build an impactful brand positioning in India.

Having an expansive yet diverse career trajectory has given him immense exposure to various cultures and value sets. His curiosity and eye for details as well as his ability to empower the people he works with, have been instrumental in building his overall professional outlook and backed his business success.

Bringing this rich and diverse experience to Hafele, Mr. Frank Schloeder looks forward to harnessing his competencies with respect to unlocking market potential, customer experience, brand management and digitalization to establish future capabilities of building a robust value chain and developing a strong connect with end consumers. Speaking about shaping a formidable future, Mr. Schloeder states “I truly believe that the entire business process should pivot around the customer, and it is this unified customer-centric approach that will eventually deliver sustainable success for any organization.” He further added “ I am grateful to Jurgen for supporting and guiding me in the past few months. I admire and respect him for the company he has built from ground up and take this responsibility of nurturing it and driving it to excellence very seriously.”

Hafele India, Established as a wholly owned subsidiary of Hafele Global network, Hafele India has been operating in India since 2003. An authority in the field of architectural hardware, furniture and kitchen fittings and accessories, the company also has a strong presence in synergized product categories like Home Appliances, Interior and Furniture Lighting, Sanitary Solutions, and Surfaces positioning itself as a complete solution provider for interior solutions in India and South Asia.

Hafele India has a strong nation-wide presence through its offices and design showrooms spread across the country. The showrooms function as a one-stop-shop for all home interior and improvement needs – from providing in-depth technical advice to kitchen and wardrobe designing services through a team of experts. https://www.hafeleindia.com/en/