Pewaukee-based
Harken Inc. has acquired its longtime Dutch distributor
On Deck B.V., giving the company a total of eight foreign subsidiaries focused on distribution and customer service.
Bill Goggins, chief executive officer of Harken, a manufacturer of sailboat hardware and industrial products, described the Netherlands as a special market for Harken that is important for the company’s future.
“It is a leading center for megayacht construction and has a healthy core market in both new boat construction and marine retail,” Goggins said. “There is a bright opportunity for expansion of Harken’s non-marine market with the help from On Deck’s great team. I know the leadership of On Deck is in great hands with our newest managing director Dennis de Bruijn and his amazing team of 20. Our future is bright.”
Harken and On Deck have a long history of working together.
“Robbert and Luuke Verboon have been great leaders of a special company that we’ve worked with since we started building hardware in the late ‘60s,” said Peter Harken, chairman of Harken. “Under their watch, we’ve seen Harken grow into a dominant position in the Dutch marine market--both in service and in hard-earned respect of our shared customers. We’re great friends with the Verboons and are grateful for them entrusting their people to us. We won’t let them down.”
