Sera presents a further managing director

Ton Jansens was appointed as a further managing director of Sera on 1 September. The news was announced by proprietor and managing director Josef Ravnak at his company’s 40th anniversary celebrations in Heinsberg. Ton Jansens is an industry expert with international experience, who was previously employed as European key account manager by pet food manufacturer Hill’s Pet Nutrition. Before that appointment, Belgian-born Jansens, who is fluent in several languages, was customer service manager and head of pet product sales for the same company in the Benelux countries. In his introductory speech, Ton Jansens said that running a medium-sized enterprise such as Sera, which is a global player in its industry, presented a special challenge. He said that his main mission in his new role was to “retain elements that have proved to be of value and to add new elements where this makes sense”. He gave his short address in five different languages, thereby gaining considerable respect among Sera’s international business partners. A high level of recognition for Sera Earlier, a visibly emotional Josef Ravnak received considerable applause as he recounted to the audience of around 200 listeners how his company had developed from a one-man band into a global enterprise. Sera now employs more than 170 staff at its headquarters in Heinsberg, where it has a 16 000 m2 production plant. As well as running subsidiaries in various European Union countries, Asia and the USA, the company exports its products globally to over 80 countries. It opened a plant in Shanghai at the beginning of 2010, where it manufactures products specifically for the Asian market to meet the huge demand there. “Positive thinking contributed to my success,” said Sera’s founder, citing this as his recipe for success. He has always clung to his vision of turning aquatics into a hobby that everyone can enjoy. Nevertheless, Josef Ravnak admitted that he would never have expected his company to achieve such success 40 years ago. Key elements of Sera’s tastefully organised celebration event included a gala dinner with musical accompaniment, tours of the company and expert lectures. Download: Sera presents a further managing director  (PDF file)