“An impressive leader”

After presenting PET awards for the Retailer of the Year to Pet’s Place and Fressnapf in 2006 and 2008, the international trade magazine PET worldwide decided this year to present an award for a PET Personality of the Year. Companies worldwide were invited to nominate candidates. The response was staggering: many, many, many replies were sent by email, and various personalities in the pet sector were nominated. The favourite of the voters became Roland Böhme. One email sent to the PET worldwide editorial team expressly highlighted his ability as managing director of JBL: “For me, Roland Böhme is an impressive leader in a family of entrepreneurs.” Other emails received by the team at PET worldwide suggested honouring Roland Böhme’s father Joachim Böhme posthumously alongside his son. Joachim Böhme, who founded JBL 50 years ago, died this summer at the age of 76. And the “fantastic crowd of employees who work to achieve the company’s success in many countries around the world” was also mentioned on several occasions. Praise for the high level of service Others who responded to the request for nominations and voted for JBL praised the company’s performance above all. “Over the years JBL has developed superbly, yet has always retained a family feeling.” The company’s excellent level of service was also stressed repeatedly: “When it comes to promptness, service and a customer-friendly approach, JBL always comes out very well,” commented another correspondent. Roland Böhme was visibly moved when he received the award from Ralf Majer-Abele, editor in chief of PET worldwide. In his short reply, he thanked the readers of PET worldwide for according him this honour and pointed out that the success of his company was attributable not to him alone, but to a large team of outstanding employees. He also made explicit reference to the work done by his father Joachim Böhme in building up the business. Roland Böhme said: “He would certainly have been pleased to learn of the presentation of this award.” Download: “An impressive leader” (PDF file)