It’s all change at the top of Schmitz Cargobull UK as it appointed a new managing director to replace two outgoing senior figures, writes Peter Brown.
Frank Reppenhagen (pictured) is the new managing director for the UK and Ireland division, replacing both Paul Avery, managing director operations, and Colin Maher, managing director sales and aftersales.
Paul Avery had been managing director of Schmitz Cargobull UK from 2010 to 2015 in the wake of the Harelaw factory closure and returned in 2020 to oversee the return of production in the UK at Wythenshawe.
Colin Maher replaced Alan Hunt in January 2023 after 27 years with a global manufacturer of industrial weighing and inspection technologies.
Frank Reppenhagen is the regional director for Western Europe and spent time with the UK and Ireland team from 2012 to 2017.
The change in senior management comes as the trailer manufacturer sets its sights on expanding its presence in the UK and Ireland, explained chief sales officer of Schmitz Cargobull Ralph Kleideiter.
“Since it opened in 2021, our Manchester plant has enabled us to cater specifically to the needs of operators in the UK and Ireland, offering tailored products that have been very well received,” he said.
“We are now aligning the site more closely with our European production strategies to better support our growth and the needs of our customers in these vital markets.”
