Danish contemporary lighting brand, Tom Rossau, recently welcomed Oliver Bergenhagen Pedersen as its new CEO. In an exclusive interview, Oliver shares his vision for the company, his collaboration with the founder, and strategies for navigating the competitive design industry.
Oliver Bergenhagen Pedersen and Tom Rossau.
Stepping into leadership
Oliver began his tenure at Tom Rossau on August 1st, diving headfirst into understanding the intricacies of the business. Reflecting on his journey to this role, he remarks, 'The dialogue started long ago, focusing on the specific needs of the business and its future aspirations. Introduced by a mutual friend to Tom Rossau last year, the process has been thorough, marked by clear communication about our goals.'
What attracted Oliver to Tom Rossau was its established identity and the beauty of its products. 'I believe that if everyone saw how everything is built here, the company would be in a much different place. There's huge potential, and that's exciting. Together with the team, I aim to elevate the company to global recognition, showcasing the quality we produce locally in our Copenhagen workshop.'
With a background in agency work with renowned interior design brands, Oliver brings a fresh perspective. Transitioning from a data consultant role, he sought a position with greater managerial responsibilities, making the role at Tom Rossau a perfect fit.
Keeping the brand's essence
Central to Oliver's approach is his collaboration with Tom Rossau, the brand's founder. 'Tom will focus on what he loves—designing and developing—while still being the face of the company. I'll handle the administrative side, ensuring the company continues to grow and expand worldwide.'
He emphasises that the brand's creative vision remains untouched. 'We both believe in our distinct design with broad appeal. There's no need for change in that regard. Our focus lies in different areas, ensuring the brand's essence remains intact.'
Global expansion
When envisioning the next five years, Oliver has clear aspirations. 'The brand is well-established in high-end Danish lighting design. We'll continue delivering and developing to position ourselves as a high-end retailer on an international level.'
'It's a tough and competitive industry,' Oliver explains. 'I think the biggest challenge right now is the intense competition in design and lighting industry. This means that we need to be focused on continued innovation in design and in the materials that we use. We need to maintain the high standard of craftsmanship that we have and make sure we stand out from the rest, which I think the brand already does. We have a lot of good things going for us.' Other challenges Oliver recognised were pricing and supply chain strategies, and also the economy in different markets.
For the international expansion a plan is already under discussion with the board. 'Our key strategies involve forming partnerships with retailers, fostering close relationships, and maintaining our unique aesthetics. Additionally, we're deeply committed to promoting sustainable practices, reducing our footprint from production to packaging,' Oliver says. 'In the next 5 years we will have expanded in core markets with a strong clear path of how to gain a percentage of the market.'
More information:
Tom Rossau
Frederiksberg Allé 5
1621 Copenhagen, Denmark.
+45 7194 0000
[email protected]
www.tomrossau.com