Dometic Middle East managing director Goran Anninger tells Hotel News Middle East how he is handing over the baton to Kester Petersson
Goran Anninger: I’m told 1991 is 26 years ago, which puts a few things into perspective. Having spent 1988 – 1989 in Sharjah, I knew what I was coming back to, to join Electrolux, Dometic Group’s original parent company. Let’s say there was no Dubai Marina, Summer Palace was a restaurant at Metropolitan Hotel and the highway to Abu Dhabi was, well, darker and narrower.
Fast-forward some years and Dometic’s lodging business became more noticeable as Sheikh Zayed road changed its face, with Crowne Plaza and other properties coming up. Chicago Beach Hotel went down with a bang, and the Jumeirah Hotels went up. The growth of the tourism sector and hotel construction since then is impressive.
We all know the excitement of being in this business: meeting people, making friends, looking at a market, understanding market needs, launching new solutions, finding your business partners, educating customers on features and standards, highlighting the best options and eventually, closing your first orders, then repeat.
Few markets offer such opportunities. Dometic Group has done very well along with other market players, across its divisions, and the United Arab Emirates is a hot spot known everywhere. A few years of handling Dometic Medical Refrigeration provided an insight into a different world, in parts of the region where life’s basics were not a given.
Working with great people from all over the world, successful business, challenges, experiencing different cultures, which also means reminders of our similarities, being part of the progress, it is all in a day’s work, times 26 years. Judging by the many megaprojects under way, the working week isn’t getting any shorter. Enjoy, thank you, all the best.
What made Dometic one of the most respected brand in the Middle East for the Hospitality industry?
Goran Anninger: Dometic recognises shifting market trends, technology updates and respect for the environment, as well as the need to offer solutions at a range of prices and design styles. We work closely with operators, owning companies and procurement companies to understand their individual requirements. To make selection, procurement and technical support easy, we selected market leading distributors across MENA, specialised in hotel supplies, to facilitate this process. This is the foundation for our customers’ respect for Dometic products
What is your vision for the new position?
Kester Petersson: As a 17-year veteran of the company, I have been positioned to maintain and integrate Dometic’s renowned commitment to quality products, attention to detail and customer responsiveness with a drive to cater for the exact needs of the local market and further develop our understanding of the end-users of our products by adapting and enhancing our offering. Reflecting the company’s emphasis on continuous improvement.
My focus is to strengthen relationships with valued partners and increase investment in our staff in order to grow the business and ensure our customers have access to the best expert advice in the market. All these factors will be in place to ensure Dometic captures the full potential within each market segment and product area.
What were your major achievements in your previous role?
Kester Petersson: I have a proven background in achieving exceptional revenue and sales growth figures and in building and leading high-performing teams, a record enforced by this most recent role at the company as Head of Business Development and Marketing for Dometic in EMEA. During this four-year stint, which followed a progression of key sales and marketing positions at Dometic, I have transformed the company’s earnings by successfully launching products in new markets.
What products and services do you offer the hotel sector?
Kester Petersson : Our hotel product range includes mini-bars, wine cellars and electronic safes. Everything is made in-house. Research and development, manufacturing, quality control, customer support, all essential work is performed by Dometic employees, and long-term business partners, by providing integrated solutions for professional and profitable in-room marketing. From choosing the right products to competent on-site advice and tailor-made solutions, we support our customers all the way, in the effort that their investment becomes an immediate success.
What makes your company stand out on the market?
Dometic will continue to enrich people’s experiences when away from home by providing smart, reliable products with outstanding design for mobile living in the areas of Hygiene & Sanitation and Food & Beverage. Dometic manufactures and sells products within these areas for use in mainly recreational vehicles, trucks and premium cars, cruisers and work boats, and for a variety of other uses, including the premium range of lodging products.
Contact details:
Mr Kester Petersson
Managing Director, Dometic Middle East and North Africa
E-mail: kester.petersson@dometic.com
Mobile number: +97156 502 6684
Phone: +9714 88 33 858
For sales enquiries, contact: mohammed.muwafi@dometic.com
