Søren Rye will take the reins for U.S. and Mexico
By Alan Wolf, YSN
BrandSource luxe appliance partner Miele USA will soon have a new corner office occupant.
Søren Rye, formerly Miele’s managing director for Scandinavia and the Baltic, has been named president/CEO of the Princeton, N.J.-based kitchen, laundry and floorcare operation, effective Jan. 1. In his new role, Rye will oversee both Miele USA and Miele Mexico.
Dr. Axel Kniehl, executive director of marketing and sales for corporate parent Miele Group, said Rye’s appointment reflects his leadership abilities, his passion for the company’s brand promise of “Immer Besser” (“Forever Better”) and the importance of the U.S. market, which is Miele’s second largest after Germany. “It is our strong ambition to become the most desirable premium kitchen brand in the U.S.,” he said.
Related: Miele to Open its First U.S. Factory
“With his depth of experience in sales, business strategy and corporate management, Søren is the perfect leader to take Miele forward and accelerate the company’s growth opportunities in the U.S. and Mexico markets,” added Martin Melzer, regional senior VP, Miele Northwest Europe and North America. “In Søren, we see an engaging and compassionate individual who will guide his team to great success and be an advocate to all business partners, so we will all grow together.”
Rye will be Miele USA’s third chief executive since the subsidiary’s creation in 1984. He succeeds Jan Heck, who is leaving after seven years in that role and 24 years with the company to pursue new opportunities. “The entire executive board and I would like to thank Jan very much for his achievements and contribution in his role,” said Melzer. “We wish him success in the new challenges in his professional career.”
Rye started out in packaged goods sales and rose to corporate leadership positions before joining Miele in 2016 as managing director, Denmark. His success in that role led to successive promotions, first heading Scandinavia and then adding the Baltic to his responsibilities. During his watch, the two regions became the fifth largest market for Miele.
Rye is also board member of APPLiA Denmark, a trade group for home appliance suppliers.
“I am honored to lead a remarkably growing Miele subsidiary,” Rye said. “And I am very much looking forward to working with the great team at Miele USA on the future growth of our business here.”
Family-owned Miele was founded in Herzebrock, Germany in 1899 as a maker of cream separation equipment, and today sells its “timelessly elegant” kitchen, laundry and floor care products in 50 countries.
