After 15 years.

Following 15 years at the helm of small household equipment leader Groupe SEB, best known for its Tefal cookware range and ironing products, Wivina Chaneliere (pictured) will leave the role of managing director at the end of March 2017.

Chaneliere has directed the company through a period of high growth, including a substantial increase in revenue. Brand-wise, the company’s premium cookware range Tefal was relatively unknown in Australia and New Zealand over a decade ago. Now, due in part to a successful partnership with high-profile chefs Jamie Oliver and Australian French-born chef Guillaume Brahimi, and a unique marketing approach, the brand is the number one cookware range throughout the region.

“I am proud of our team’s achievements over the past 15 years. There is a strong culture of teamwork and cooperation which has facilitated our drive to create innovative categories for our consumers and retail partners,” Chaneliere said.

Over the years she has seen a number of trends take hold throughout the industry, she is proud her business has focused on creating key categories, such as the low-oil fryers, smart grills and more recently the electrical pressure cooker category, which has helped make people’s lives easier in the kitchen.

In linen care, the creation of the steam generator, and more recently the garment steamer categories has elevated the company’s standing to the number one spot in the region.

Chaneliere will be succeeded by Groupe SEB France vice-president of category management and shopper marketing, Cecile Goron-Vaucelle, who joined the company in 2012 following an 11 year tenure at Procter & Gamble.

She will fill the role of managing director of Australia and New Zealand to assist in the transfer of knowledge throughout the group of the local arm’s successful go-to-market strategy. “Groupe SEB is a great company with a bright future ahead and the local subsidiary has still lots of potential for growth.”