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Van Raam bids farewell to longtime directors Marjolein Boezel and Ronald Ruesink

20/01/2025 13:15 Comments Off

In December 2024, employees of LEVA-EU member Van Raam, the internationally renowned custom bicycle manufacturer, gathered to honor and bid farewell to its longstanding directors, Marjolein Boezel and Ronald Ruesink.

After decades of dedicated service and leadership, the duo officially passed the torch to the next generation of management as of January 1, 2025. While stepping back from daily operations, Boezel and Ruesink will remain involved with the company as shareholders, ambassadors, and advisors.

Over three decades of leadership

Marjolein Boezel and her brother-in-law, Ronald Ruesink, have played pivotal roles in shaping Van Raam’s journey from a small family business to a global leader in innovative bicycle solutions. Ruesink joined Van Raam in 1991, followed by Boezel in 1993. Together with Boezel’s brother, Jan-Willem Boezel, they assumed leadership of the company in 2001, succeeding Marjolein and Jan-Willem’s father, Piet Boezel.

Under their stewardship, Van Raam introduced groundbreaking designs such as the wheelchair bike and the duo bike, establishing the company as a market leader in mobility solutions. Their shared vision and dedication have enabled Van Raam to transform countless lives by improving accessibility and mobility for people worldwide.

A festive farewell

Despite their preference for a modest send-off, the Van Raam team organized a warm and informal farewell during the company’s final quarterly meeting of 2024. Employees and family members gathered to express their gratitude and celebrate the achievements of Boezel and Ruesink.

As part of the festivities, the departing directors were presented with a Van Raam timeline—a symbolic gesture commemorating their journey with the company. Reflecting on the occasion, Boezel remarked, “The farewell reflected Van Raam’s culture—respectful, warm, loving, and full of humor. It’s been an incredible journey of working hard, learning hard, and of course, playing hard.”

New leadership and vision

With their departure, the leadership of Van Raam transitions to a carefully selected management team. Jan-Willem Boezel will continue as CEO, working alongside Gerwin Sieders (CCO) and Robert Lamain (CFO). A broader management team, overseeing operations, business development, HR, and product management, ensures continuity and innovation.

This leadership change comes as Van Raam strengthens its collaboration with investment company Armira, positioning the company for sustained growth and expansion.

The updated Van Raam management team pictured below from left to right: Gerwin Sieders, Robert Lamain, and Jan-Willem Boezel.

Looking ahead

Van Raam remains steadfast in its mission to enhance mobility and freedom for individuals around the globe through cutting-edge bicycle solutions. As the company embarks on this new chapter, the foundation laid by Boezel, Ruesink, and the Boezel family provides a solid platform for continued success.

The legacy of Marjolein Boezel and Ronald Ruesink will live on as Van Raam continues to innovate and touch lives worldwide.

Change in the management board at Stromer

14/10/2024 15:40 Comments Off

After 11 successful years at Stromer, Co-CEO Tomi Viiala has decided to step back from the operational business and leave the company. He has done so to spend more time with his family, who live in Finland. Tomi Viiala will remain a shareholder.

Tomi Viiala has been a member of the management team at myStromer AG for 11 years and was responsible as VP Sales & Marketing, Retail Support and for the subsidiaries in the Netherlands, Romania and the USA prior to his role as Co-CEO.
During these years, he made a decisive contribution to developing the brand from a start-up to one of the leading manufacturers of S-Pedelecs.

Peter Pergovacz, Chairman of the Board of Directors of myStromer AG, says: “I would like to thank Tomi personally and on behalf of the Board of Directors for his valuable work and tireless commitment over the past 11 years. I have personally appreciated the last 3.5 years in particular, during which we have worked together directly. We respect his decision to leave the company in order to spend more time with his family in the future and wish him and his family all the best for the future.”

To ensure a seamless transition and the continuation of good customer relations, Co-CEO Karl Ludwig Kley will take over Tomi Viiala’s responsibilities on an ad interim basis. The management tasks in the Sales division will be distributed within the
management team during the transition phase. myStromer AG will provide information on the final succession plan in due course.

The orientation of both brands Stromer and Desiknio will remain unchanged. Despite the change in management and the current challenges in the bicycle market, myStromer AG looks forward to a positive future and is looking forward to continuing
to drive forward the transformation of mobility with innovative mobility solutions.

Media contact: media@stromerbike.com | Fabienne.gillieron@stromerbike.com

About Stromer and Desiknio

Founded in 2010 and based in Oberwangen, Switzerland, the company is shaping the future of mobility with its speed pedelecs.
myStromer AG produces all e-bikes at the Oberwangen site and is the market leader in the Speed Pedelec category (fast e-bikes up
to 45 km/h). The company has around 150 employees, three subsidiaries (USA, Netherlands, Romania) and sells its S-Pedelecs in
23 countries. Since 2021, the Spanish brand Desiknio has complemented the portfolio with urban, high-quality bikes (25 km/h). With its high-end products, Stromer provides a contemporary mobility solution for commuters. This is confirmed by the <500 million kilometers ridden with Stromer bikes. Stromer is #HereToChange.