Today, the German shipbuilder Meyer Group is faced with new challenges that it will address by initiating ‘The New Meyer Way’, a structural re-organisation that will allow the group to strengthen old and build new business opportunities.
As part of this initiative, Bernd Eikens (pictured) is to join the Meyer Group executive team as Group CEO this December.
Eikens has worked in different management positions for UPM-Kymmene for 25 years, and since 2013, as a member of the group executive team. His international career includes positions in the US, China, Germany and Finland.
Most recently, he headed the successful implementation of a pulp mill project in Uruguay with a total investment $3.5 bill.
He has served as a member of the Meyer Turku advisory board since 2019 and, in this position, has become familiar with the shipbuilding industry in general and the Meyer Group in particular.
He holds a MSc in Mechanical Engineering from the Technical University of Darmstadt, a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Colorado State University and a MSc in Supply Chain Management from Georgia Institute of Technology.
Meyer Group head, Bernard Meyer, said: “Bernd Eikens is a perfect fit for our Meyer Group combining international leadership experience with a strong background in operations and project management. Additionally, it is a great benefit that he has management experience in both Germany and Finland.
“We are looking forward to strengthening our management team with Bernd, whose experience in a large, multi-national company will bring new impulses for our operations in the shipyards and the overall development of the Meyer Group,” he said.
Eikens added: “I am very much looking forward to joining the Meyer Group. The shipyards are close to my heart and I am certain that my experience can be a valuable asset for the Meyer Group and the ‘New Meyer Way’.
“As part of my board work for Meyer Group, I have become familiar with the issues of shipbuilding in Europe and I trust that we will form a strong team to address the challenges of the future,” he said.
To account for the growing complexities of the present business environment, the Meyer Group will restructure its core leadership team.
A Meyer Group Executive Board has been established that will steer all activities and developments in the Group. This broader management system allows the Meyer Group to strengthen its core business and to further develop new business opportunities.
Eikens, as a group CEO, will be in charge of global operations in shipbuilding and the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg. Tim Meyer will be named Family speaker, representing the company to shipbuilding customers and stakeholders. In addition, he will continue as CEO of Meyer Turku, a position he has held since 2020.
Thomas Weigend will be appointed Chief Sales Officer and will lead the holistic customer interface and cross-yard capacity planning and will further develop the new business opportunities Meyer Floating Solutions and Meyer RE.
Jan Meyer will oversee new business development centering around the Neptun Werft shipyard and including the new offshore wind business, as well as overseeing technology development as the Chief Business Innovation Officer.
The new business areas are expected to grow substantially. After 50 years with the company, Bernard Meyer, who recently turned 75, will concentrate on non-operational areas on the Group’s Advisory Board.
Jan Meyer said: ”This structure is a commitment of the Meyer family to further develop and diversify our company. At the same time it takes the increasing complexity of our products and maritime excellence into account.
“For the shipbuilding operations, we will capture synergies between our yards and further enhance the co-operation between them. Additionally, operational performance in each shipyard will be strengthened supported by our knowhow and the existing professionalism of our employees in each location,” he concluded.
