After 26 years in the foodservice industry Peter Schön has left his role as the CEO of GRANULDISK.
Schön moves on after a hugely successful career working with Rational and GRANULDISK and having witnessed great change and many innovations in the foodservice sector.
“It has been a great honour for me working in the foodservice industry, getting to know so many great people who I have learned a lot from over the years,” he says in a statement announcing the news.
From Sweden to the US
Schön started his career with Rational in 1993 when he helepd the company start a subsidiary in Sweden. Having joined initally for one year he ended up staying with the firm as managing director for 12 years during which time he helped the company grow into Denmark, Norway and Iceland as well as the Baltic States.
In 2002 the job would take him to the US when Rational owner Siegfried Meister asked him to take on the role as president. It was an opportunity he couldn’t resist and the experience lived up to expectations. “It was an unbelievable journey, I learned so much during those 12 or 13 years,” he says. “Rational grew a lot and became a public company. It was so exciting to see the great change all over Rational.”
Schön moved the family back to Sweden in 2005 and shortly after began a new adventure, this time with GRANULDISK where he became the CEO in 2006. During his time at the helm he oversaw launch into many new markets as the company established itself all over Europe, the Middle East and in Asia.
Passing the mantle
This month, however, Schön passed the mantle to new CEO Mikael Samuelsson.
“I am very proud to hand over a well-maintained GRANULDISK with awesome dedicated co-workers and one of the most knowledgable teams ever,” he says.
Samuelsson joins from CH Drives & Automation where he was the CEO. “This is a great company that helps customers all over the world to save water, energy and chemicals every day,” he says.
“I have a grand vision for GRANULDISK with the goal of more customers than ever benefiting from our sustainable No Pre-Washing Concept.”
For those wondering what’s next for Schön, retirement is definitely not on the cards. “My wife says it doesn’t fit my character and I think she is right,” he says. Instead he will be working to support Sandberg Development, which owns GRANULDISK and will assume board positions in supporting roles.
Tina Nielsen
(pictured, l-r): Peter Schön, Mikael Samuelsson
