Unity in diversity

The new management about the new direction

As of 1 January 2024, Mennens is managed centrally, with one management team and strategy. Why this choice and what will change? The new, three-member management team consists of David Posthumus (Managing Director), Frans Batist (Commercial Director) and Rolf Lemmens (Operations Director). They talk about the new strategy.

With Groningen, Hengelo, Amsterdam, Dongen and Rotterdam, Mennens has five super-strong locations in the Netherlands. Until 1 January 2024, each location was led separately. David explains: "This grew historically and certainly had its advantages. We have a strong local presence, our people know ‘how things work' in their region. But we also want to leverage the strengths of each location outside the region. That fits our core value: national and local."

From banking to heavy engineering

David started at Mennens in Groningen in 2009. "Before that, I was an account manager at DSB Bank. It was a turbulent time, and I was looking for a new challenge. I came across Mennens through an acquaintance. As account manager I visited customers. That's how I got to know the profession and the industry and learned a tremendous amount in the field of testing and inspection."

| "We have so many opportunities together."

Pulling the cart

In late 2010, David became sales manager and member of the management team at Mennens Groningen. When Axel Johnson International acquired Mennens in 2012, management changed, and people noticed David's ambition and power to change things, and in 2017 he was appointed Director in Groningen. "I was eager to pull the cart and in 2020 I was also asked to look after Mennens Hengelo," he says. Since 1 January 2024, David has been Managing Director of Mennens in the Netherlands.

Making the most of each other's strengths

With this management experience, David now sets the direction as CEO of Mennens in the Netherlands. "Each Mennens location has its own local signature and its own atmosphere. That is going to stay the same. But we are going to benefit more from one another nationally. Groningen, for example, is strong in crane building and we have our tarpaulin production facility there. In Hengelo, there’s the Mennens Tech Academy. Our people in Amsterdam and Rotterdam have huge experience in steel wire rope projects. And one of Europe's largest tensile testing machines is in Dongen. In Rotterdam, we offer unique training, advice and expertise on working at height and in depth. And Rope Access. We want to combine all these strengths. So that our customers in the Rotterdam region also get to know the high-quality sails from Groningen. Amsterdam will make even more use of the large tensile testing machine in Dongen. And Hengelo will offer fall protection training courses more often. These are just examples. What matters is that – together - there are so many opportunities."

| "Mennens is national and nearby"

Commercial opportunities

After leading Mennens Rotterdam for nine years, as well as 'Safe Site - Powered by Mennens' after the merger in 2020, Frans Batist is now Commercial Director for the national organization. Frans: "The playing field is changing. A new generation of buyers is ready and waiting. Where price used to be decisive, nowadays the plan of action, safety, quality, sustainability and service are paramount. Relationship management is also increasingly important. As a single organization, we will be able to excel even more in these areas."

From 'good' to 'even better'

Lots of things are going well, Frans emphasizes. "At the same time, we are looking for opportunities to improve. These opportunities are often to be found in the details. For example, we want to be even sharper on things like the quotation process, contract management and after-sales. What can we do to further improve our customers' experience?"

Operations and sales

Our new Operations Director Rolf Lemmens has extensive experience in merging business processes in organizations. He is now putting that expertise to use at Mennens. Rolf: "There will be more separation between Operations and Sales. We are doing this to get more focus, which makes it easier to strengthen one another. But the boundary should not be too sharp, as that is not effective. It is all about finding the right balance. And we are going to find that together. After all, Operations and Sales are closely intertwined."

Operation follows commerce

Frans agrees. "Sales cannot do without Operations and vice versa. We distinguish ourselves with high-quality services, such as testing and inspection. This strengthens sales and so we offer added value. Conversely, Sales strengthens our test & repair and service departments. Because when we sell a hoisting product, we also offer inspection and testing. And if a company buys Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as a fall arrest harness, we also offer working at height training. And we can provide inspection of the fall harnesses. This way, one part benefits from the other and we achieve more together."

Looking ahead with confidence

David, Frans and Rolf are looking to the future with confidence. David: "Centralized control will deliver decisiveness and quick decision-making. It will also make us more agile. With respect for our mutual differences, we highlight Mennens’ strengths far more. Our goal is to create unity in diversity."
"You can see the same enthusiasm everywhere"

Proud of our colleagues

What prevails is the feeling of pride. David concludes, "I am unbelievably proud of our professionals. It doesn’t matter whether you’re walking through the workshop having a chat, meeting our field service engineers, or talking to the people in the office at the commercial department: I can see the enthusiasm in everyone. And that’s so admirable! Together we stand for safety, quality and customer focus, and that has already taken us a long way. I am looking forward to building further on our joint success - together with everyone at Mennens."

Meet the Board