Harken's new owners, the employees
More than 50 years after its founding in 1968, the hardware manufacturer Harken is changing hands. Peter Harken, his brother's family Olaf died on 21 October 2019 and Art Mitchel, the current owners, announced on September 18 the sale of their business to their employees within the US parent company. "It is our employees who have made this company the leader it is. Today we are changing ownership. It's time for those who have worked with us to take ownership of Harken," said Peter Harken.
An ancient will of the Harken brothers
The choice of a transmission from the ship chandler to his employees has been matured over time. The Executive Committee set up several years ago, comprising the new CEO Bill Goggins, Matt Malec the Chief Operating Officer, John Jensen the Chief Financial Officer, Andrea Merello Managing Director of Harken Italy, Adriano Rubbinaccio Director of Operations at Harken Italy and Stefano Castagana Director of Global Human Resources, was tasked with preparing this transition. "Over the years, Olaf and I have been approached by many people interested in acquiring our company. The path chosen was simple, we turned down all offers that did not offer a better future for our employees than we could create ourselves," says Peter Harken. He continues: "These people we hired and let grow have had their hands on the tiller for some time now, and I look forward to seeing them at the helm. I've always said that a company is its employees, and it's those 400 employees around the world that make this company great."
The founder specifies that he will remain in the company, of which he will be an ambassador and a simple employee. He even ironizes in a video "I am a mere employee. I'll have to be on time or I might get fired!"
An expanding group
With 2 plants in the United States and Italy, Harken is distributed in 48 countries. The company has subsidiaries in Australia, France, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. It also has subsidiaries in Australia, France, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom take over its Dutch distributor On Deck BV .
