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| Above, Winnebago RVs on display at the California RV Show. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Winnebago Industries has always been an industry leader in RVs.
Now with a new CEO (Michael Happe joined the company last year), is undergoing a major resurgence.
The StarTribune reported:
Michael Happe is leading a resurgence of one of the most famous names in the recreation vehicle industry.
When Happe became CEO of Winnebago Industries in January 2016 after a nearly 20-year career at Bloomington-based Toro Co., he said the board was receptive to establishing a new direction for the company.
In short order, Happe orchestrated the largest acquisition in the company’s history, increasing Winnebago’s stake in the biggest and fastest growing RV segment, towables. He also introduced several new products and built a new leadership team. “Seven of the nine direct reports that I have are either new to the company, or new in their positions,” Happe said.
The company, based in Forest City, Iowa, also moved its executive offices to Minnesota, first in a small space in Burnsville and now in Eden Prairie where the company plans to have 100 employees by the end of 2018.
Analyst Craig Kennison of RW Baird said Happe is conducting “a leadership-driven transformation” of one of the most recognized brands in the recreational vehicle industry.I, for one, is very pleased with my Winnebago Minnie Winnie 22R. I have had no problems with the vehicle, except for a bathroom roof vent that "glued" itself shut. It was repaired under warranty.
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