Häfele America appoints new president

Left to right: Paul Smith, outgoing President of Häfele America, Olivier Vareille, President of Häfele America, and Gregor Riekena, Global CEO of Häfele.

ARCHDALE, N.C. — Häfele America has appointed Olivier Vareille as president, effective immediately. He succeeds Paul Smith, who retired in April after 15 years leading the organization through a period of sustained growth and expansion. 

The company says the appointment marks a new phase for Häfele America as it continues to strengthen its position in the North American market, with a focus on operational performance, customer relationships, and long-term development.

Vareille said he is energized by the opportunity ahead and the company’s culture and foundation, “I could not be more excited and honored to join Häfele America. This company truly feels like a family, and I’ve felt welcomed from my very first day.” 

He added, “From a business standpoint, Häfele America has a very robust operational foundation and an incredibly customer-centric organization. To stay in that position, we will continue to improve, remain daring, and further differentiate ourselves.” 
Looking ahead, he emphasized building on existing strengths and deepening customer value across the market."
 


 

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Larry Adams is a Chicago-based writer and editor who writes about how things get done. A former wire service and community newspaper reporter, Larry is an award-winning writer with more than three decades of experience. In addition to writing about woodworking, he has covered science, metrology, metalworking, industrial design, quality control, imaging, Swiss and micromanufacturing . He was previously a Tabbie Award winner for his coverage of nano-based coatings technology for the automotive industry. Larry volunteers for the historic preservation group, the Kalo Foundation/Ianelli Studios, and the science-based group, Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C2ST).