Swiss Wood Flooring Firm Bauwerk Names Patrick Hardy CEO

St. Margrethen, Switzerland—Patrick Hardy has been appointed CEO and president of the Bauwerk Group, a global wood flooring firm based in St. Margrethen, Switzerland. He succeeds Klaus Brammertz who led the Group between 2009 and 2021 and is now on its supervisory council.

Hardy oversees the Swiss Bauwerk Group and both of its brands, Bauwerk Parkett and Boen. A dual Swiss and Dutch national, Hardy previously has always worked for powerful brands. The updated company strategy is currently in its final stages of development, and Hardy will continue working towards its clear vision of being an ‘innovation leader for sustainable and natural wooden floors.

Accelerating digital transformation
The professional career of Patrick Hardy, who was born in the Netherlands, includes such premium
brands as Victorinox, Bally, and Swarovski, where he held sales, marketing, and business manager
positions. “The role our products play in people’s well-being was the main reason behind my motivation
to take over the management of Bauwerk.”

His move to the Bauwerk Group took place in a time of upheaval and global challenges. Patrick Hardy
views this as an opportunity, intending to focus more on digitization.

“We will take advantage of process digitization to boost our efficiency, reduce costs and act more quickly. We also want to increase the intensity of digital services to benefit our clients and to highlight consumers’ needs: It is essential to point out the critical advantages of parquet to various target groups. In the future, parquet should be the first choice when interior designers, planners, and end customers decide on a floor type.”

Hardy intends to implement the new culture internally first. “Digital transformation certainly involves a significant challenge, but it’s also a key to success.”

Nature and sustainability still in focus
The unique natural character of wooden floors offers a perfect antithesis to the digital world. ‘As
Europe’s leading manufacturer of parquet and second-biggest player on the wooden floor market, we
see this as a great responsibility that we have taken to heart within the Bauwerk Group.’ The company
will continue working on the issue of climate change and its effect on the availability and quality of
timber, as well as the constant fight to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The rising prices of raw
materials also demand a new approach. ‘Our clients know that even in a time of sharply rising costs and
the associated price hikes, we will not make any compromises when it comes to quality.’

The significance and quantity of the certificates that the company has already been awarded demonstrate its success in making forward-looking decisions: most Bauwerk Parkett products meet the strict requirements of the eco Institut label and other independent certification bodies, meaning that these products are healthy, sustainably-made and of verified quality. Thus, parquet by Bauwerk delivers a
perfectly balanced living atmosphere every day, and brings natural character to your life at home, for
personal well-being and unparalleled comfort within your own four walls.

A pioneer and an innovative leader
Bauwerk Parkett is an embodiment of the Swiss passion for precision, something customers can
perceive in every product. The parquet manufacturer from Switzerland also makes sure that its
products always impress with their carefully crafted design. This is not only about the right look, but
also about combining beauty with intelligent function in a way that creates true value.
While the product portfolio for Bauwerk Parquet has seen some streamlining, the Group’s premium
brand continues to invest in innovation. ‘Internally, we have built-up huge expertise, with a large
research and development unit and highly specialised, seasoned staff. We’re also maintaining ongoing
collaborations with universities, institutes, and external designers. It is Bauwerk’s internal competence
and the passion of its employees that have given the company its competitive edge in the past, and it is
these traits that will make it possible for us to set new industry standards and achieve success in the
future.’
Company profile: the Bauwerk Group
The Bauwerk Group is Europe’s leading developer, manufacturer, and supplier of premium parquet floors
and the second-largest supplier of hardwood floors on the market. With some 9.3 million square metres of parquet sold under the brands Bauwerk and Boen every year, the group offers a comprehensive range of solid, 2-layer, and 3-layer parquet flooring as well as hardwood flooring for sports facilities. Its core markets in Switzerland, Norway, and Germany, as well as Austria, England, France, Italy, Sweden, China, and the US, are managed by local subsidiaries. The head administrative office for the group is located in St. Margrethen, Switzerland. Its production sites are located in St. Margrethen, Kietaviškės (Lithuania), and Durdevac (Croatia). During the 2021 financial year, Bauwerk Group generated CHF 302 million in net
sales, employing a total of around 1,600 people.

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