Since June 1, Thomas van Schalkwyk, a South African national, has overseen the daily operations at Birkenstock’s newest production facility. The 35,000-square-meter factory in the Berlin-Szczecin industrial park near Pasewalk, Germany, began operation in September 2023.
“It is an honor to take on the leadership of this state-of-the-art facility,” said van Schalkwyk. “Here, we have ideal conditions to produce our footwear to the highest quality and safety standards. I am excited about the opportunity to enhance Birkenstock’s supply chain operations from our Pasewalk location and look forward to engaging with our partners and stakeholders in the local community and beyond.”
Richard Cesar, VP of Birkenstock Productions, commented, “Thomas brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in manufacturing and operations management. His leadership will be invaluable as we continue to expand our production capabilities and maintain our commitment to quality and innovation.”
Van Schalkwyk holds an MBA from Nelson Mandela University in South Africa and has extensive experience in the manufacturing sector. He has spent the past one and a half years at the company’s factory in Görlitz, Saxony, Germany, where he was head of production, overseeing process, logistics, production planning, and technical purchasing.
Before joining Birkenstock, van Schalkwyk gained valuable international experience working in South Africa, France, Dubai, and Germany. This diverse background will serve him well as he leads the Pasewalk plant, which will employ 700 people from around ten different nationalities as of October.
“As a leader, my goal is to inspire and motivate my team to work collaboratively towards achieving our common objectives,” Van Schalkwyk remarked. “I believe in fostering a work environment where employees are driven by a shared purpose rather than obligation. I am committed to quality and customer satisfaction and always strive to maintain a holistic perspective on our operations.”
Images courtesy Birkenstock
