Mennens is ready for a new step

Danny van Deuzen looks back and forward

From 2016 through 2023, the Mennens Group flourished under Danny van Deuzen’s inspired leadership. On 1 January 2024, he passed on the baton: "Mennens is ready for a new step and David Posthumus is the right man, in the right place," Danny says.

As of 1 January 2024, Danny started a new challenge as Commercial Director for Mennens Cleanroom Cranes. He remains a member of the Management Team of Axel Johnson International's Lifting Solutions Group, in Sweden.

Mennens Dongen

Danny came across Mennens in 2005 when he took over as Director of Mennens Dongen. About the years that followed, he says: "It was an interesting time, which I look back on with huge pleasure. We worked well together with the team and the results improved greatly, thanks to several factors. For example, we expanded our service and inspection activities and started Magnetic Rope Testing, or MRT. We completely modernized the tensile testing machine, and we started market it better and better. 'Working safely' became an increasingly important theme for our clients, and we responded to this actively."

"In 2008 we started working seriously with Cleanroom Cranes, first in Oirschot and later in Eindhoven. This business unit filled a clear need and grew steadily, which also contributed greatly to the results of the Mennens location in Dongen."

In early 2016, Danny became Group Director. "It has been incredibly rewarding to lead the Mennens Group for eight years," Danny says. "We have grown steadily and modernized the organization, especially by investing seriously in IT and HR. I always enjoy being at the locations and having a chat with everyone. To know what's going on."

The future

Danny sees a bright future for Mennens. "Mennens is ready for a next step. The 'Van Deuzen era' is finished. Automation is increasingly important in the business process, and customer contact is being digitised. Different knowledge is needed in many places, but Mennens remains a company of ‘do-ers’. It is up to David to find the balance here, and he is being entrusted to do just that. With his ambition, energy and expertise, he is the right man in the right place. The market offers plenty of opportunities and Mennens is certainly going to seize them."

Leading the way with Cleanroom Cranes

For Danny, the changing of the guard means that he can focus his full attention on Cleanroom Cranes, which he founded himself. As of 1 January 2024, this will be an independent company, separate from Mennens Netherlands. "We are way ahead in this niche market of Cleanroom Cranes, and we need to keep it that way. The market is growing, so we have plenty of opportunity to grow. That is what I am going for, together with our smart team and our top technicians."

About Danny van Deuzen

• 54 years
• Together with Ellen
• Father of Maurice (23) and Charlotte (25)
• Lives in Schiedam
• Barbecues all year round, even in winter
• Wine lover
• Attended HTS commercial engineering, majoring in mechanical engineering
• Member of the Management Team of the Lifting Solution Group (LSG) of Axel Johnson International
• Before Mennens, his positions included Managing Director at Kvaerner Ships Equipment, Business Unit Manager at Eriks / Flexion and Manager of the Spare Parts Department at Deutz.