Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Thomas Bittner our seventh president

Joe Piot engaged McKinsey & Co. to evaluate Polychrome Europe business.     Thomas Bittner,  the head of the investigating team, later came to run Polychrome Europe           Through acquisition and house cleaning he was able to show well run business in Europe at the time of Mel's departure, and the contrast between European and US business must have been the basis of his elevation to become our seventh president.
His message "simple and honest" was easy to digest and his optimistic and technology friendly views along with his McKinsey trained business acumen made him a very popular and successful president.      The company was transformed under his watch from an old traditional analog products company to a modern digital products company for a renewed growth.
Unfortunately for Polychrome, he chose to return to France when his wife was tapped to become an editor of a very prestigious fashion magazine.       On his return to France he ran a large paper company there.          He has achieved his dream, he said during our reunion dinner in 2012, of owning a winery.       He now produces his own wine as well as olive oil.