"Growing together"

KEMPER GmbH continues to grow. Against this background, the manufacturer of extraction units and filter systems has decided to reorganise the areas of responsibility in the management. Since the beginning of 2019, Frederic Lanz has mainly been responsible for Marketing & Sales. KEMPER has gained an enthusiastic innovation promoter and sales strategist. As an experienced manager, the 37-year-old does not shy away from change processes but, in addition to the big picture, always keeps his team in mind. As a networker par excellence, he networks man and machine at different levels: technologically, with a common vision of the future and, above all, through a positive, success-oriented and value-based spirit Frederic Lanz explains in an interview why he decided on KEMPER and where he wants to go with the manufacturer.

What is your initial impression after the first few days at KEMPER?

KEMPER is a versatile company in every respect, brimming with commitment, expertise and willpower. I am overwhelmed by the warm welcome and openness of each individual and already feel very comfortable in the team.

What distinguishes KEMPER as a company?

For me at KEMPER, it's the mix that makes the difference: The topics of the future of automation and digitalisation meet traditional family values here. Pioneering spirit and innovative entrepreneurship are actually lived out. In my opinion, these are the best drivers for an agile future.

Keyword future: What are the challenges you have to overcome?

KEMPER has doubled its turnover in the past eight years – an outstanding development for a metal processing company. KEMPER has succeeded in positioning its business in a market with growing demands in a much more focused manner. With a strong team behind it, KEMPER has the most important resource for this. Nevertheless, we must continue to pick up speed. By 2025, we want to increase our sales by another half.

How do you intend to press ahead with this ambitious target forward in concrete terms?

In my capacity as CEO, I will work together with all employees, partners and customers to create structures that allow us to grow together. It is very important to me to offer our customers and partners a platform for exchanging ideas. The expansion of customer support, the support of preferred partners and the ramp-up of service levels are just some of the key points on my agenda. I have many years of experience in international marketing and sales as well as in global business development. We also want to further expand the KEMPER brand in the international environment.

What is the vision that drives you?

When someone asks me about my visions or plans for the future, I feel the same way as the economist Peter Drucker: "The best way to predict the future is to shape it yourself." With this in mind, I am very much looking forward to my new task and, above all, to doing my part to advance KEMPER even further. Setting the course together, purposefully building up a broader portfolio and developing exceptional innovative products: These are my guiding principles.

Where do you see the future of the industry?

The future of the industry lies in the digitalisation of end devices combined with innovative solutions for occupational safety and employee satisfaction. Now the challenge is to tap the new potential that KEMPER offers to the fullest extent. In the digitalisation of its portfolio, KEMPER has already completed groundbreaking work in the field of occupational safety. We are consistently building on this in the interest of our customers.