Dörte Thiel, an expert in corporate communication, fruit processing and analytics from Duisburg (Germany), captivated the audience at the 9th International Speaker Slam in Wiesbaden (Germany) on September 12, 2025. In front of around 150 participants from 22 nations, she presented her expertise on corporate development and compellingly highlighted the numerous advantages of transparent communication as a key to success, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Thiel, the winner of the 9th International Speaker Slam amidst thunderous applause, posed the question of who the leaders in the fruit juice industry are. Her answer: mostly specialists who were promoted, independent business owners, or their partners and heirs. She illustrated that many are unaware of the “7 deadly sins of leadership” and often underestimate the immense thrust that innovative corporate governance through transparent communication can provide.

In her speech, Thiel emphasised the positive effects of transparency on employee performance and willingness, personnel costs, and profit growth. When people are involved in decisions and know the shared company goals, they are often more motivated, focused, and healthier. She argued that a company only functions optimally when all its “cogs” mesh together seamlessly. “A company works like clockwork; no matter how small or large a cog is, if they don’t mesh smoothly, the system doesn’t function,” said Thiel.

The expert, who has been active in industry and commerce for over 30 years, including more than 20 years in the fruit juice industry, supported her theses with practical examples from her extensive experience. She supports companies worldwide across the entire supply chain – from the farmer to the processing plant and through to the manufacturing of the final product – and knows the challenges facing SMEs.

Thiel made it clear that transparent communication not only improves the working atmosphere but also boosts innovation and competitiveness. She called on leaders to actively involve their employees in decision-making processes and to establish an open feedback culture. Only in this way, she argued, can the full potential of the workforce be realised.
With her innovative, all-round consulting approach, backed by a success guarantee, Dörte Thiel supports companies in optimising their internal communication and leaving the “deadly sins of leadership” behind. Her victory at the International Speaker Slam impressively confirmed her expertise and her ability to communicate complex topics in an understandable and inspiring manner.

CEO Hans Roelofs to retire effective August 1, 2025

• Refresco’s Supervisory Board has launched succession plan
• Refresco, the global independent beverage solutions provider, announces that Chief Executive Officer Hans Roelofs will retire, effective August 1, 2025.

Hans has had a distinguished career spanning over 18 years at Refresco. Under Hans’s leadership, Refresco successfully expanded, and now operates in 13 countries across 75 manufacturing sites and has a global workforce of over 14,000 employees. Building on its resilient business model, Refresco has enjoyed a journey of substantial value creation, demonstrating the strength and adaptability of its operations.

James Cunningham, Partner of KKR and Chairman of the Refresco Supervisory Board, stated: “I would like to thank Hans for his tremendous career at Refresco and the role he played in driving the Company’s success for nearly two decades. Hans’s passion for and commitment to Refresco is admirable, and he was instrumental to the Company’s ascent to a global leadership position. We are grateful for his leadership in positioning Refresco for continued success in the years to come as we continue to expand the Company’s footprint and execute on our proven strategy to grow alongside our strong and diversified customer base.”

CEO Refresco, Hans Roelofs, commented: “It has been a true privilege and honor to lead Refresco since 2007. Together with our passionate and highly professional team, we have grown the business from a small regional player into the global leader in beverage solutions that we are today. With its blue-chip customer base, Refresco is now stronger and more resilient than ever, and I am proud of what we have achieved. This is the right time for me to step back, confident that the company will continue to grow and thrive on its unique entrepreneurial spirit and the agility of its people.”

Frédéric Stévenin, Managing Partner of PAI and Refresco Supervisory Board Member said: “I would like to thank Hans for his outstanding, dedicated service to Refresco and its stakeholders since he joined the Company in 2007. Under his leadership, Refresco went through a period of unprecedented growth and transformation. We look forward to celebrating Hans’s many amazing accomplishments as his formal retirement date nears.”

Refresco’s Supervisory Board has already launched a succession planning process to identify and appoint the best candidate to lead the Company’s next chapter, and is expecting to announce a new CEO in due course. While this process is ongoing, the Board and the Company are committed to ensuring a smooth leadership transition, with Hans remaining in his role as CEO until his retirement date.