Mr. Happe joins Winnebago Industries from The Toro Company (NYSE: TTC) headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota, where he most recently served as an Executive Officer and Group Vice President of Toro’s Residential and Contractor businesses. A 19-year veteran of Toro, he held a series of senior leadership positions throughout his career across a variety of the company’s domestic and international divisions. Michael Happe received his Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kansas.
Larry Erickson, Winnebago’s Chairman of the Board, said, “After conducting a comprehensive search that included both internal and external candidates, we are pleased to welcome Mike to the Winnebago family as our President and CEO. The board unanimously agrees that he is the right choice to lead this great company into the future. His extensive leadership experience gained while serving in various roles at Toro resulted in building a track record of success. He has a remarkable record of performance in brand and product management, as well as strategy and new business development. This, combined with his market development experience and customer focused operating style, has fueled his ability to exceed customer expectations and consistently deliver world-class financial results to the shareholders.”
Michael Happe added, “I am truly honored to join a great team at Winnebago, an iconic brand with a strong culture that is focused every day on meeting the needs of their customers. Working together with our employees and channel partners, we are committed to increasing value to both the marketplace and our shareholders through high-quality, innovative products and consistent financial performance.”
Concurrent with this appointment, the Company announced the future expansion of its corporate footprint to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area. This will provide the leadership of the company with greater access to the strategic and intellectual resources it will need to position Winnebago for successful growth and returns in the future. With existing operations in several states, this strategy is not anticipated to affect significant changes in employment at any current Winnebago locations at this time.
A move out of FC has been coming for years. What shocks me is taking an old money, conservative, Republican pillar Corporation out of Iowa and moving it to Minnesota. Of all places, land of 10,000 unions and super liberal agendas on issue after issue, from border to border. John K and Luise V are rolling over in their graves!
“will provide the leadership of the company with greater access to the strategic and intellectual resources it will need to position Winnebago for successful growth and returns in the future.”
“…not anticipated to affect significant changes in employment at any current Winnebago locations at this time.”
This is the typical corporate-speak & verbiage that proceeds big changes.
Have to agree with Bodacious.
I do believe this isthe end for Winnebago in North Iowa.
I have to agree with both of you, the Minneapolis comment is strange here. I don’t think it would make sense for them to move everything out of Forest City though, too much of a loss to shut down and move that entire line to a new location.
From what I understand, corporate offices will be moved first. None of the officers at the top live in FC anyway. I think they all live in Clear Lake.
@Bodacious-I agree with you on this one. They have been headed this way for a long time.