because of its proximity to the factory. And since it often
takes a very long time before someone finds the way to
Kirchhundem, there are still enough people at the company
who can service, repair and – in an emergency – build the
machinery themselves. At Walter Mennekes’ company, being
down-home and international are not contradictory: he has
turned a seemingly boring product into a global brand.
YET SUCCESSES have to be defended, he says, and im-
mediately draws several parallels with sports. “As a manu-
facturer, to remain in the Champions League you need to
remember that no sooner has one trade fair ended than an-
other one starts,” he says, referring in particular to systematic
follow-up. He also knows that “staying at the top of the
podium is by no means self-evident. You have to win this
place, time and time again.”
EVEN IN PURSUIT OF THIS PASSION, Walter
Mennekes never loses sight of his goal of “plugging” his
business wherever possible. And so, in the VIP stand watch-
ing VfL Wolfsburg versus Bayern, he took the opportunity
to give VW CEO Martin Winterkorn the prototype of a charg-
ing plug for electric cars. “I’d never have gotten an appoint-
ment with Mr. Winterkorn,” says Mennekes, which is some-
what of an understatement because the company’s “foreign
minister”, who now shares its management with his son
Christopher, has an impressive network of contacts and in-
cludes politicians, CEOs and sports idols among his friends.
Yet, Mennekes’ primary concern is the family-run company,
which he took over at the tender age of 27. He chose to study
mechanical engineering right around the corner in Meschede
✱ ✱ ✱
Right at the top of the podium: top quality,
reliability, safety, innovative capacity,
proximity to the market and sustainability
are the characteristics that embody the
MENNEKES brand today.
1935
13 DECEMBER 1947
1975
TO DATE
MILESTONES
FOUNDATION
Aloys Mennekes starts an electrical workshop in Hofolpe
BIRTH
Walter Mennekes is born in what is now Kirchhundem
JOINS THE COMPANY
On the death of his father Aloys, Walter Mennekes takes over the company at the age of 27,
earlier than planned
HONORARY POSTS
Among other things, Walter Mennekes is a member of the advisory boards of FC Bayern Munich
and the Deutsche Sporthilfe Foundation. Since June 2013, he has acted as Chairman of AUMA,
the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry.
20
Hamburg Messe und Congress | Annual Report 2014
PROFILE