Hettich America has announced the appointment of Matthias Bertl as its new CEO. With nearly two decades of experience, Bertl brings a blend of strategic vision, operational excellence and deep product knowledge to the role.
Following positions in brand management at Blum Southeast Asia and as head of procurement Asia at ING Bank N.V., Bertl joined the Hettich Group in 2018. Since then, he has held global leadership roles across Asia, most recently serving as managing director of Hettich Singapore, Hettich Indonesia and Hettich Vietnam.
In his new role, Bertl will be based at Hettich America’s headquarters in Buford, Ga., where he will oversee the company’s U.S. operations with a focus on expanding brand visibility, growing market share and driving innovation in the North American market. His appointment follows the recent merger between Hettich and FGV Group, positioning the company for accelerated growth and deeper market integration.
“Hettich Group is internationally renowned for our unparalleled innovation, and trademark German engineering,” said Bertl. “As CEO of Hettich America, my goal is to expand our presence in the United States with a hands-on sales approach, engaging loyal trade partners and reaching new consumer audiences with our exceptional solutions offering. Hettich America has untapped potential that I look forward to unleashing with our dedicated colleagues.”
Bertl’s appointment comes at a pivotal time as Hettich America seeks to evolve from a high-end functional hardware manufacturer into a lifestyle brand recognized for both form and function. He brings international experience and a fresh perspective to his new role, where he will lead the company’s mission to bring intelligent solutions to every living space. His strategic priorities include opening showrooms across the U.S. to deliver the Hettich experience directly to customers, expanding the hospitality sector and strengthening local partnerships through immersive, market-specific engagement.
“Our product is unmatched, and our engineers are the best in the industry,” Bertl added. “I look forward to immersing myself in American culture as we make Hettich a household name in the U.S. – not just for quality hardware, but for shaping how people experience their living spaces.”
The recent acquisition of fellow hardware giant FGV America is now official following its initial announcement in late 2024, marking the formal close of the deal. The merger represents a key milestone in both companies’ shared strategy to strengthen market presence and exposure across the competitive North America market.
With aligned values, long-term vision and deep industry expertise, the merger brings together two family-owned businesses with over 200 years of combined experience, signifying a profound and future-focused partnership built on mutual respect and a shared commitment to advancing the furniture fittings industry.
“Hettich and FGV are the perfect match in the functional hardware industry,” said Bertl, CEO. “With this new partnership, clients of both brands will benefit from our different value propositions and efficiencies in our operations, ensuring reliability in the current volatile market.”
Bertl made the joint announcement with Kosta Esabalidis, CEO of FGV America. While the Hettich Group is now the 100% shareholder of the FGV Group, both brands will continue to operate independently, preserving their unique market identities and existing customer relationships. This ensures continuity and consistency for existing clients across the U.S. and beyond.
Integration efforts are underway to align backend operations, such as SAP systems, financial structures and internal processes, to improve efficiency and enhance service capabilities. Together, Hettich and FGV are poised to deliver an expanded product portfolio, broader design flexibility, and increased value to partners, cementing their leadership in the global hardware space and shaping the future of lifestyle-driven furniture solutions.
