Dynamic Global Executive Oliver Bahr Brings World-Class Experience
Hansgrohe, Inc., a leading manufacturer of kitchen and bath products and a U.S.-based, wholly-owned subsidiary of Hansgrohe SE, is proud to announce it has appointed Oliver Bahr as President/GM, effective July 23. Formerly President at Franke Kitchen Systems North America, Bahr comes with the unique advantage of a dual citizenship (USA and Germany) and a documented history of tremendous success in product and brand development, performance culture, and collaborative e-commerce strategies.
Bahr has a long history of exemplary achievement in sales and marketing, including successful establishment of operational footprint and performance optimizations. His diverse range of international expertise and his multicultural background will be a considerable asset in his new role at Hansgrohe as he looks to build on the company’s success in 2018. A talented team of over 250 employees and a world-class manufacturing facility in Alpharetta, GA will also fall under Bahr’s supervision—furnishing Hansgrohe with a concerted edge.
According to Interim President Sibylle Mair, “Hansgrohe’s foundation is built on leadership, innovation, and a commitment to unparalleled quality. It was paramount to find a succeeding president that exhibited those core qualities. We searched far and wide and meticulously analyzed each candidate to ensure that we found the consummate professional to guide our U.S. team. Bahr’s strong work ethic along with his industry experience and recognized ascendancy in the commercial and residential markets—both nationally and internationally—made him stand out from the rest.”
Bahr comes to Hansgrohe having worked with well-recognized manufacturers in the building products and power tools sector. He most-recently served as the president of the Franke Kitchen Systems North American business unit for the past year. Prior to that, Bahr was VP of Sales with Franke from 2013–2017. Before joining the plumbing sector, Bahr held several key positions with the Robert Bosch Tool Corporation from 2006–2013 after working with the Stanley Black & Decker Corporation.
About the Hansgrohe Group – the Original from the Black Forest
With its brands AXOR and hansgrohe, the Hansgrohe Group, based in Schiltach/Southern Germany, enjoys a reputation as a leader in innovation, quality and design within the bath and kitchen industry. The Hansgrohe Group brings form and function to water with faucets, showerheads and shower systems. The 117-year history of the company is marked by innovations such as the first hand-held shower with multiple spray types, the first pull-out kitchen faucets, and the first wall bar to hold a hand-held shower. The company holds more than 16,000 active property rights. The Hansgrohe Group stands for long-lasting quality products. With 34 subsidiaries and 21 sales offices supplying products in more than 140 countries, the company is a reliable partner to its customers around the world. The Hansgrohe Group, its brands and products have won numerous awards, including more than 500 design prizes since 1974. Sustainable production of resource-conserving products is central to the company’s business activities around the globe. The products of the Hansgrohe Group are featured in projects around the world, such as the luxurious ocean liner Queen Mary 2, and the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The Group’s high quality standards are ensured by five wholly-owned production facilities: two in Germany, one each in France, the United States and China. In 2017, the Hansgrohe Group generated a turnover of EUR 1.077 billion. It employs about 5,000 people worldwide, about 60 percent of whom work in Germany.