Wittmann Battenfeld Benelux N.V., based in Holsbeek, Belgium, will implement a generational change in its top management at the end of 2025. After 31 years as managing director of the Austrian Wittmann Group’s sales and service subsidiary for the Benelux region, Michel van der Motten will retire. His role will be taken over by Mark Verveer, who has already joined the company to ensure a structured handover and continuity for customers in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
Commenting on the change at the head of the Benelux organisation, Michael Wittmann, owner and managing director of the Wittmann Group, underlined the long-term contribution of the outgoing managing director. He stated: "Michel van der Motten has firmly established the Wittmann and Wittmann Battenfeld brands in the Benelux countries and is primarily responsible for the leading market positioning of our products in that area. For this, we owe him our most sincere gratitude." He added that with his extensive specialist expertise, van der Motten has been an important discussion partner and advisor for customers, extending beyond the scope of the company’s products and technologies. "We extend to him our very best wishes for the new stage in his life," said Wittmann.
To secure a smooth transition for the customer base in Benelux, the successor has been integrated into the organisation ahead of the formal change in management. Mark Verveer joined Wittmann Battenfeld Benelux on 1 October of this year. According to Michael Wittmann, the group is satisfied with the appointment: "We are glad to have recruited Mr. Verveer for this position of responsibility. With his experience gathered over several decades, we have secured optimal continuity for our customers in Benelux."
New managing director with long-standing industry experience
The incoming managing director, Mark Verveer, studied mechanical engineering and has been active in the injection molding industry and plastics machinery manufacturing for more than 30 years. His professional background includes extensive experience with both the Benelux markets and the international industry network. This combination of regional familiarity and global perspective is expected to support the further development of Wittmann Battenfeld’s activities in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
Verveer’s technical education and long-standing involvement in plastics processing and machinery are aligned with the core business fields of Wittmann and Wittmann Battenfeld, which supply injection molding machines and auxiliary equipment to processors in a broad range of application segments. The group emphasises that this continuity in technical and market expertise is central to maintaining the company’s established position in the region.
Reinforcement of the Benelux sales organisation
The generational change in management is accompanied by an expansion of the sales organisation in Benelux. As part of this restructuring and reinforcement, the sales team has been strengthened with an additional engineer. Eric Claeyssens started as a sales engineer on 1 August 2025. He is a graduate electrical engineer and brings more than 20 years of professional experience to his new role.
Claeyssens has a background in technical customer support and in sales of plastics machinery. This dual experience in service and commercial activities is intended to support close customer contact and application-oriented advising in the Benelux market. With the appointment of Verveer and Claeyssens, Wittmann Battenfeld Benelux is positioning itself for continuity in customer relationships combined with reinforced technical and sales capacities.
Mark Verveer is the new Managing Director of Wittmann Battenfeld Benelux based in Belgium.
