From Cold Caller to CEO: Building New Markets

It is not every day that someone starts with a cold call to a famous hometown brand and ends up as a global leader in their executive team.

As a young Austrian with a passion for judo and an eye for opportunity, he reached out to a company founded in 1756 to spark their interest in developing their business in Japan. They had a local partner, but the market was tiny and the numbers were just not there. The brand had heritage, but no momentum.

The company took a chance on him. That decision led to over three decades of sustained growth built on careful judgment, market insight, persistence and the courage to act early.

Today, as CEO of Riedel Japan, Wolfgang Angyal is well known in the industry, but few know the back story behind that journey.

At the April CI meeting, you may be among the few to hear his candid account of how he scaled a heritage brand in Japan and went on to launch it in 26 countries across five continents. We will cover:

・From unknown to industry leader
・Finding the right distribution and marketing strategies
・Driving product adoption to meet untapped markets

A rare behind the scenes look at long term brand building, market creation, and the decisions that make growth stick.