Leadership transition at Unilin

Bernard first came to Unilin in 1984 as a plant manager. As the company continued to grow, so did his managerial responsibilities. Between 1996 and 2006 Bernard managed Unilin’s Flooring Division in tandem with Frans De Cock. He was instrumental in the evolution from pure chipboard company to global pioneer in laminate flooring. Bernard was personally closely involved in the invention and commercialisation of Unilin’s patented Uniclic click profile that revolutionised the flooring world. In addition he was one of the driving forces behind the creation and expansion of the Quick-Step brand. In 2009, four years after the takeover by Mohawk Industries, Bernard was promoted to CEO of Unilin / President Mohawk Flooring Rest of the World. Both through organic growth and acquisitions in Panels, Insulation and Flooring, Bernard has continued to expand the business over the past 14 years into a company with a workforce of 8,400 and a turnover of €3.1 billion in 2022. ​ 

Wim Messiaen boasts over 30 years of management experience in an international production context at, among others, Domo (1996-2001), Etex (2003-2018) and VPK Packaging Group (2018-present). In the past five years Wim has acted as Divisional CEO Corrugated Packaging at VPK Packaging Group. His last position at Etex was that of Division Manager of Roofing Central and Eastern Europe and at Domo he worked amongst others in the role of Managing Director of the Contract Flooring Division. Wim obtained a master’s degree in Applied Economic Sciences from UGent as well as an MBA from Vlerick Business School.

Bernard Thiers:
​“It is with full confidence that I pass the torch to Wim. Wim boasts generous experience heading a large international organisation and is intimately familiar with our industry of construction and interior design products. I have come to know Wim as a highly capable leader and people manager who knows how to inspire and motivate his teams. On a personal level he is down-to-earth and characterised by a strong ‘can do’ mentality that dovetails perfectly with the no-nonsense culture of Unilin and Mohawk.” 

Wim Messiaen: ​
​“Unilin has an impressive drive for innovation. Performance, design and sustainability are the cornerstones of its business strategy. I am looking forward to perpetuating the sustainable and international growth within a Fortune 500 company, with the clear objective of using the extensive product portfolio for construction and interior design to improve the living environment and quality of life of the end customer. It is a privilege to work with the strong management team from its Belgian home base to achieve that growth and provide customers with the highest quality and most attractive products and services through a focus on circularity and innovation.” 

Bernard Thiers Portrait

Bernard Thiers Landscape

Wim Messiaen PortraitWim Messiaen Landscape

About Unilin
​Unilin is a global reference for interior design and building. We engineer, manufacture and market laminate flooring, luxury vinyl tiles, sheet vinyl, engineered parquet, carpet tiles, broadloom carpet, raw and decorative panels, industrial floors, wall and roof systems and insulation boards.

Through our flooring, panels, insulation and technologies, we are present in the homes and workspaces of millions of people and in public spaces all over the world. Our team of passionate entrepreneurs aims to improve people’s quality of life by innovating and continuously pushing boundaries in our sector. Our striving for excellence and extensive know-how allow us to provide quality, beauty and sustainability, whether our customers are at home, at work or in public spaces.

This commitment to improve people’s quality of life is translated in our baseline: Better spaces. Better life.

· ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 8400 people

· ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 105 locations worldwide, including +30 production sites

· ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ A turnover of € 3,1 billion in 2022.

Our customers and partners know us as Unilin, IVC or Godfrey Hirst, or through one of our brands such as Quick-Step, Moduleo, Utherm, Pergo, Evola, ​ or ClicWall.

Unilin is proudly part of Mohawk Industries, the world's largest flooring company with a turnover of $ 11.7 billion and 41.600 employees.