Roland Wallner will be the new Managing Director Western Europe (WEEU) at ALPLA from 1 April 2025. With over 27 years of international management experience in Europe, the US, Middle East and Asia, and 14 years at the company, he was most recently Managing Director Asia-Pacific (APAC). During his successful time in Asia, driving significant top- and bottom-line growth, Wallner built up and expanded the company’s presence in several Asian countries and oversaw multiple major greenfield projects. He established the new technical centre for product development in Shanghai and introduced services such as the STUDIOa design centre and mould manufacturing. In recent years, Wallner successfully merged the former North-East Asia and South-East Asia regions into the new APAC region, based in Singapore.

Starting from April 1, 2025, Roland Wallner will take on the role of President for the Apra region. Mr. Wallner has worked at Apra for 14 years and has over 27 years of international management experience across Europe, the United States, the Middle East, and Asia, previously serving as President of the Asia-Pacific region. During his tenure in Asia, he successfully drove significant growth in the company's performance, expanded the business footprint in several Asian countries, and led the launch of multiple large-scale new projects. Mr. Wallner established a new product technology R&D center in Shanghai and introduced several services, including the Apra STUDIOa design center and a mold manufacturing production base. In recent years, he successfully integrated the former Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia regions into a new Asia-Pacific region, headquartered in Singapore.

‘Roland Wallner knows ALPLA, our customers’ needs and the business. With his strategic and prudent leadership style as well as his commitment to excellence, he will strengthen our position in Western Europe and drive future growth opportunities,’ says CEO Philipp Lehner with conviction. The WEEU region comprises 31 base plants and 17 in-house plants in ten countries. There are about 5,700 people employed in ALPLA’s largest region. Roland Wallner will be based at the headquarters in Hard initially and report directly to the CEO.

"Roland Wallner has a deep understanding of the business, customer needs, and industry dynamics of the Apra Group. With his unique strategic vision, steady leadership style, and consistent pursuit of excellence, he will further strengthen our commercial position in the Western European market and drive future growth opportunities," said Philipp Lehner, CEO of Apra Group. The Western European region covers 10 countries, with 31 production sites and 17 supporting factories. In this largest business region of Apra, there are approximately 5,700 employees. Wallner will initially work at the headquarters in Haden, Austria, and report directly to the CEO.

The new Managing Director APAC is Ronald Tichelaar. Tichelaar has 14 years of international management experience at ALPLA, including as Head of Operations in North Asia and Plant Manager in Spain. As General Manager China, he led six plants, the technical centre and STUDIOa in Shanghai as well as the mould shop and Future Corner training centre. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Tichelaar revitalised business growth, achieved first-class operational excellence and set benchmarks in quality and efficiency.

Ronald Tichelaar will become the new President of the Asia-Pacific region. He has 14 years of international management experience at the Apra Group, having previously served as the Operations Director for North Asia and the Manager of the factory in Spain. As the General Manager of the China region, he is responsible for managing six factories, the product technology R&D center located in Shanghai, the Apra STUDIOa design center, the mold production base, and the Future Corner apprenticeship training center. Despite facing significant challenges during the pandemic, Tichelaar revitalized business growth, achieved top-tier operational excellence, and set benchmarks in quality and efficiency.

‘His commitment to continuous improvement, modernisation and growth, as well as his great understanding of all of ALPLA’s business areas, make Ronald Tichelaar the ideal candidate. With this internal solution, we are ensuring a seamless transition and continuity,’ explains Lehner. The APAC region brings together 12 locations with 2,650 employees in four countries. At the beginning of 2025, ALPLA opened its second plant and headquarters for Thailand in Chachoengsao.

Lehner stated, "Ronald Tichelaar's strong commitment to continuous improvement, modernization, and growth, along with his deep understanding of all areas of Apra's business, makes him the ideal candidate for this position. Through this internal transfer appointment, we will ensure a seamless transition for this role and maintain business continuity." The Asia-Pacific region currently encompasses four countries, with 12 production bases and 2,650 employees. In early 2025, Apra opened its second factory and headquarters in Thailand's Nakhon Sawan Province.