A change around of management at Knaus Tabbert next month will see an industry veteran with a long history with Adria take an even more prominent role at the German company.
The new appointment follows the recent news that Knaus is to release a new range which is designed for caravanning in even the coldest climates.
Wim De Pundert, who was appointed chief executive at the end of 2024, is stepping down after the company’s AGM on 10 July and is expected to return to the supervisory board.
His replacement, Thomas Nickel, has been working as transformation manager at the company, which produces Knaus and Weinsberg caravans, motorhomes and campervans and T@B teardrop caravans, since March this year.
His appointment will be accompanied by the promotion of Matjaž Grm, who has been working as an external advisor since January last year, to the executive board. Mr Grm previously worked for many years for Adria.
Supervisory board chair Dr Esther Hackl said: “With the reorganisation of the management team, we are confidently sending a clear signal of stability, continuity and the consistent further development of Knaus Tabbert.”
The turnaround programme masterminded by De Pundert and Nickel appears at least initially to be bearing some fruit. First quarter results released in May show that despite a 15.7% drop in consolidated revenue compared with the same period last year, and an 8.3% fall in sales volumes to 5190 units, pre-tax profits actually rose by 83.6% to €15.6m.
Another recent move within the industry has seen a new, more budget-friendly Airstream caravan imported into the UK by Lowdhams. Costing £30,000 less than existing models, the 7.21m-long World Traveler 22RB could be joined by two more in the future, too.
In other news, an abandoned caravan has cost its owner over £1,300. The incident saw an old and dilapidated caravan left on a road in Oxfordshire for over a year, with the owner repeatedly failing to move it.
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