Before joining Kannegiesser, Mark Ledson worked for ten years for a long-established Swiss family business in the field of process solutions for the Grain and Food sectors. He was based in their Thai office and held two roles: as Managing Director, he was responsible for operations in Thailand and the sub-regions of Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. Simultaneously, he served as Sales Director, overseeing the sales of large-scale plant projects across Southeast Asia.
‘Living and working within Southeast Asia, understanding the different cultures across the region and being able to manage a large sales and service organization whilst at the same time following the company values of trust, respect and sustainability where a large part of my responsibilities’, says Ledson.
What particularly appealed to him about the move to Kannegiesser was the strong sense of family values that is part of Kannegiesser’s daily life – especially the strong team spirit and the support that is given to people at all levels. This value-orientated corporate culture, combined with synergies with his previous professional experience, had a decisive influence on his decision: ‘I'm looking forward to making a difference together with the strong team in South East Asia’, says Ledson.
As the Managing Director of Kannegiesser SEA, one of his key responsibilities is to further expand Kannegiesser's already well-established market position in Southeast Asia. The aim is to consolidate the company's presence in established markets and open up new countries in order to achieve sustainable growth and a continuous increase in business results.
Ledson is pursuing an entrepreneurial strategy: in close cooperation with the Group's management, he aims to address the business challenges in Southeast Asia by mapping customers across the region. This will help build a deeper understanding of their expectations, ensuring the continued delivery of Kannegiesser's high-quality service.
He sees both opportunities and challenges ahead: ‘A strongly price-driven market and competition from local manufacturers will continue to be part of our environment. That’s why we must place even greater emphasis on quality and service — with the goal of being recognised as a reliable partner across all areas of laundry technology’.
Ledson favors close collaboration with existing customers: ‘Listening to our customers needs is critical if we are to build meaningful relationships that will grow and develop, their success is our success and helping them to achieve this will be our goal going forward’.
In Mark Ledson, Kannegiesser has gained an internationally experienced leader who not only knows the markets of Southeast Asia inside out, but also has a clear vision for their future development.
On 29 April 2025, Mark Ledson officially assumed the role of Managing Director at Kannegiesser Southeast Asia, succeeding John Hacker, who has successfully led the organisation for many years. Mr Hacker will continue to be associated with the company as a consultant and will actively support the handover process in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition.
Born in the UK, Mark Ledson brings with him many years of international management experience and in-depth market knowledge of the Southeast Asian region. In his new role, he will drive forward the strategic development of the business in existing markets and tap into new potential in the region.