December 11, 2023

Miele, the world’s leading manufacturer of premium domestic appliances, today announced the appointment of Søren Rye as the next president and CEO for Miele USA, effective January 2024. Rye will be the third president and CEO since 1984, when the company established itself in the US. In his new role, he will assume responsibility for both Miele USA and Miele Mexico.

Most recently, Rye served as the managing director of the Nordic and Baltic regions for Miele.

“For us as Miele, the United States continues to be the most important market outside of Germany and it is our strong ambition to become the most desirable premium kitchen brand in the US,” said Dr. Axel Kniehl, executive director marketing & sales of the Miele Group. “We are extremely confident in Søren’s leadership and passion for the brand’s ‘Immer Besser’ or ‘Forever Better’ mindset.”

Rye joined Miele in 2016, beginning as managing director of Denmark, and quickly nurtured the market to great success. His achievements led to his appointment to head up the Nordic region followed by overseeing both the Nordic and Baltic regions for the brand. Under his responsibility, the Nordic and Baltic markets became the fifth largest region within the Miele Group. Prior to Miele, Rye held several sales and corporate leadership positions in the consumer package goods category and is a current board member of APPLiA Denmark, an association for suppliers of electrical domestic appliances.

“With his depth of experience in sales, business strategy and corporate management, Søren is the perfect leader to take Miele forward and accelerate the company’s growth opportunities in the US and Mexico market,” said Martin Melzer, regional senior vice president, Miele North West Europe and North America. “In Søren, we see an engaging and compassionate individual who will guide his team at Miele USA to great success and be an advocate to all business partners so we will all grow together.”

“I am honored to lead a remarkably growing Miele subsidiary,” said Søren Rye, incoming president and CEO of Miele USA. “And I am very much looking forward to working with the great team at Miele USA on the future growth of our business here.”

Rye assumes the role previously held by Jan Heck. After twenty-four years with the Miele organization (17 in Canada and 7 in the US), Heck is leaving his position to pursue new opportunities outside Miele.

“The entire Executive Board and I would like to thank Jan very much for his achievements and contribution in his role. We wish him success in the new challenges in his professional career,” said Melzer.

Photo credit: Miele