THOMAS LOOS

Shaping the future of commercial warewashing technology

"Don't just manage today – shape tomorrow" has been Thomas Loos's guiding principle at MEIKO since 1998. Nearly three decades after joining the company, Thomas, now Head of the Global Professional Business Unit (PBU) Clean, can look back on several exciting roles within the organisation. Starting as a Area Sales Manager for Western Germany, he later took charge of large machines and systems across the DACH region. In 2014, he became the driving force behind the development of global product and segment management at MEIKO. In this interview, Thomas shares what originally led him to MEIKO and why he is still passionate about what he does.

In the late 1990s, after nearly seven years in his previous position, Thomas was searching for a new professional challenge. He quickly discovered an exciting opportunity at MEIKO. Following three rounds of interviews discussing the scope of his future responsibilities, Thomas took the plunge and made the move to MEIKO. Looking back, he admits he could never have imagined spending so many years working for a single company.

WHAT LED YOU TO JOIN MEIKO?

Thomas: "After completing my degree in mechanical engineering, I spent seven years working in systems technology at a sheet metal processing company in Kehl am Rhein. Our main clients were manufacturers in the automotive industry. As time passed, however, I began to feel that I needed a new challenge, so I started exploring suitable positions in the region. When I found MEIKO, I immediately realised that its values and ideas aligned perfectly with mine.

WHAT MAKES THIS COMPANY SO SPECIAL IN YOUR EYES?

Thomas: "To this day, I'm hugely impressed by the broad leeway MEIKO allows me in my role. That's been true ever since I came on board. Everyone, right up to the CEO, is open to new ideas. If you come up with a compelling concept, you have the opportunity to put it into practice. Naturally, some change processes take longer than others, but the option of pursuing unconventional approaches is definitely there at MEIKO. Strategic long-term thinking is always the priority here, because we all know that long-term success stems from sustainable efforts rather than one-off actions.

100&NBSP;PERCENT COMMITTED TO MEIKO

The fact that MEIKO is owned by a foundation offers us numerous advantages. Unlike publicly traded companies driven by shareholder demands, we’ve never had to operate in short-term cycles. This enables us to be significantly more flexible on the product side, focusing on customer benefits while building reliable and and profitable relationships over the long term.

WHAT DOES YOUR CURRENT ROLE&NBSP;INVOLVE?

Thomas: "As Head of the Professional Business Unit (PBU) Clean, I focus on strategically aligning our entire product portfolio while also supporting our market organisations in target countries. Ultimately, our goal is to always deliver the best value proposition and maximum benefits to our target customer groups. To achieve this, we continuously provide our market organisations with valuable insights and guidance for successful market development. Essentially, my team and I define the medium- and long-term roadmap for the future of our commercial warewashing solutions. We shape MEIKO’s product vision – not driven by internal interests, but always based on the specific needs of each market and each customer."

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO DO A GOOD JOB?

Thomas: "I think you need three things: enthusiasm, motivation and passion. Your industry background doesn’t matter; everything related to products and solutions can be learned. You don't need to enjoy every single day of your work, but you should at least feel satisfied with the results you achieve. That's the key in my view."

UNWINDING IN BELLA ITALIA...

For holidays, Thomas and his family often head to Italy, his wife's homeland. Their favourite destinations include Sicily, Liguria, South Tyrol and Tuscany.

WHAT'S THE MOST EXCITING PROJECT YOU'VE WORKED ON?

Thomas: "The development of our M-iClean H hood type dishwashing machine in 2017 stands out in my mind. For the first time, thanks to detailed customer surveys and feedback, we were able to shift the conversation away from a sole emphasis on consumption figures. Instead, we focused on the issues of employees, ergonomics, efficient working time arrangements, and eliminating excessive physical strain in the workplace – all with the clear objective of maximising benefits for our customers. We turned these aspects into key components of our messaging and external communications. By consistently sticking with that approach, we created a lasting change in the market. Today, over 97 percent of our hood type dishwashing machines are sold with an automatic hood system."

HOW DO YOU UNWIND FROM WORK?

Thomas: "I absolutely love road cycling and mountain biking. I'm also very interested in financial markets and investment opportunities. My angle is not day trading, but rather long-term investment strategies, so how to make your money work effectively with minimal effort. Aside from my hobbies, spending time with family and friends is also really important to me, plus I really enjoy travelling."

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO POTENTIAL APPLICANTS?

Thomas: "Having a proactive attitude and mindset is vital at MEIKO. People are what define and shape this company – that's a key thing for new employees to take on board. And if you're clearly passionate about your work as well, you'll fit in perfectly here."

CAREER TO DATE

1998-2003

Area Sales Manager Western Germany at MEIKO

2004-2014

Head of Product Group, Sales

2014-2018

Head of Product Management

2019-2023

Head of Product and Segment Management

Since October 2023

Head of Global PBU Clean

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