(Pictured left to right: Paul Smith, Olivier Vareille, Gregor Riekena)
Häfele America announced today the appointment of Olivier Vareille as President, effective March 9, 2026. Vareille succeeds Paul Smith, who retired in April after a distinguished 15-year tenure leading the organization through a period of sustained growth and transformation.
Vareille joins Häfele America from Viessmann North America, where he served as President and CEO. Prior to that role, he built a broad leadership background at Bosch Power Tools, progressing through marketing, sales, and product development before assuming full responsibility for the North American business. His experience leading North American subsidiaries of global, family-owned organizations, paired with a strong customer-first philosophy, positions him well to guide Häfele America into its future.
Gregor Riekena, Global CEO of Häfele, shares his enthusiasm and positive outlook on the newly appointed president: “I am excited to welcome Olivier Vareille as the President of Häfele America. Olivier brings with him a proven track record of effective leadership and we believe that he will be an excellent cultural fit for our organization.”
“As I reflect on my time with Häfele America, I do so with great confidence in the future of this organization,” said Paul Smith. “The selection of our next president was made with care, intention, and a deep belief in the leadership required to guide Häfele America through its next chapter. I have full faith in Olivier—in his judgment, values, and commitment to our customers, partners, and people alike. Häfele America is in very capable hands.”
Vareille shared his enthusiasm for the role and the organization’s culture and values: “I could not be more excited and honored to join Häfele America. This company truly feels like a family, and I’ve felt welcomed from my very first days,” he said. “What drew me to Häfele is the idea of collective power: bringing strengths together and supporting one another to win as a team. That mindset has defined every success in my career.”
He added, “From a business standpoint, Häfele America has a very robust operational foundation and an incredibly customer-centric organization. My early customer visits confirmed that our partners see us as one of the best companies to do business with. To stay in that position, we will continue to improve, remain daring, and further differentiate ourselves—especially by continuing to invest in our best-in-class distribution capabilities as well as Häfele’s own assortment and manufacturing capabilities.”
Looking ahead, Vareille emphasized continuity as well as opportunity: “We have an incredibly strong foundation, built by a talented team and strong leadership before me. As we look to the future, I see tremendous opportunity to build on Häfele’s reputation, deepen customer relationships, and continue creating meaningful value for the markets we serve. I’m excited and proud to help lead the next chapter of Häfele America.”
Based in Archdale, North Carolina, Vareille will be joined locally by his family after the school year ends, as they begin this new chapter together.
