Mohawk Industries announced that Wim Messiaen will join the company on October 16, 2023, following the completion of his contractual notice, and will succeed Bernard Thiers as president of the company’s Flooring Rest of the World segment effective February 1, 2024. Thiers will continue in a senior advisory role after February 1 to ensure a successful transition of the business and its strategies.

For the past five years, Messiaen has served as CEO of the corrugated packaging division of VPK Group. Prior to that, he worked for 16 years with Etex, a leading global building materials company, where his last position was division manager of Roofing - Central and Eastern Europe. Earlier, Messiaen served as managing director of Domo Group’s contract carpet tile division.

“Wim has an excellent record as an inspirational leader,” said Jeffrey S. Lorberbaum, Mohawk’s chairman and chief executive officer. “His expertise includes driving organic growth on an international scale, including brown and green field initiatives and numerous acquisitions and divestments. Wim has successfully launched new product categories and built brands from the ground up as well as reorganizing businesses to optimize their results. His background encompasses many product categories, including fiber-based packaging, exterior cladding, roofing, internal partitions and flooring. Wim will complement our outstanding Flooring Rest of the World team and continue our profitable growth.”

Since 2009, Thiers has led Mohawk’s Flooring Rest of the World segment. He dramatically expanded the business into new geographies and product categories while developing a talented leadership team. Under Thiers’ leadership, the business executed multiple transformational acquisitions, including IVC Group in Europe and Godfrey Hirst, the largest flooring business in Australia and New Zealand. He built the panels and insulation businesses into industry leaders both through organic growth and acquisitions. Thiers’ focus on product innovation led to the creation of breakthrough innovations in flooring, resulting in a leading patent portfolio and licensing business.