ELYRIA, OHIO – After 27 years of service, Lou Slangen, executive vice president and chief product officer, has retired from Ohio-based Invacare Corp. Slangen has been a driving force behind many of Invacare’s branding, marketing, product, and business successes.
“Lou has always been a staunch advocate for the voice of the customer and spent much of his time engaging with customers,” said Mal Mixon, chairman of Invacare’s Board of Directors. “He has been an incredible partner in the development and success of Invacare and its brand since he joined our team in 1987. He also was a visionary in the development of new products ensuring that we focused on the needs of the consumers and our customers worldwide. Lou bleeds Invacare blue and I want to thank him for everything that he has done for Invacare.”
“Lou’s passion and creativity have been an important part of the Invacare leadership team,” added Gerald Blouch, president and CEO, Invacare Corp. “During his years of service, he has been an incredible advocate for the home care industry and the difference it can make in people’s lives. We wish him all the best in his next chapter.”
John Remmers will assume responsibility for Invacare’s North America commercial operations. Remmers joined Invacare in 2010 as the senior vice president, Global Supply Chain and Operations, and he has since expanded his responsibilities at Invacare to include global engineering and commercial operations for China and Top End.
His background includes a breadth of general management experience, including his prior role as executive vice president and general manager at TTI Floor Care where he was responsible for select business units, product marketing, engineering, operations and supply chain. Prior to that, he spent 13 years with Robert Bosch Tool Corporation, where he had multiple executive level positions, including senior vice president of New Product Development.
“The diversity and strength of John Remmer’s professional experience have led him to continue to expand his leadership responsibilities at Invacare,” said Blouch. He has developed a passion for the home and long-term care markets that we serve, and we believe he is the right person with the right skills and experience to lead Invacare’s North American businesses.”