In good hands: third generation running family-owned Mapal

Germany – Dr Jochen Kress is president of the Germany-based Mapal Group effective 1 January 2018, taking over as successor after his father Dr. Dieter Kress retired from the executive board late last year.

Heading Mapal the last 49 years, Dieter Kress has stepped down, ending an era that shaped and paved the success of Mapal, which was founded by his father Dr. Goerg Kress in 1950. Under his leadership the last half century, the company grew from a small regional producer of tap drills with 100 employees into an international group with over 5,000 employees worldwide, of which 1,800 are based in the Aalen-HQ. Last year, the limited partnership (KG) generated consolidated sales of over 600 million euro. A successful leader, Dieter Kress was also awarded the Federal Cross of Merit on Ribbon of the Order of Merit from the Federal Republic of Germany for his outstanding contributions and personal commitments.

Jochen Kress, born in 1975, studied machine engineering at the TU Dresden. After his MBA (Master of Business Administration International Management) at the Leipzig Commercial College, he received his doctorate in 2007. Having acquired extensive international experience spread over the USA and Asia, Jochen Kress has been a member of the Mapal executive board since 2008. Further to work activities, he is strongly involved in teaching, research and business groups as well. “I am taking on my new duties with the greatest possible commitment and will continue to manage the company in my father’s spirit,” the new president promises.