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Suzhou, China – Connect Group, a leading European-based EMS company, proudly announces the successful conclusion of its first series of Executive Strategic Meetings held at its China plant in Suzhou during the last week of January. These pivotal meetings mark a significant milestone in Connect Group's strategic integration process, following its acquisition of IKOR in May 2021.

The Executive Management Team, alongside the Asian management team, discussed the company's achievements in 2023, the roadmap for the complete integration of IKOR plants into Connect Group, and shared best practices to ensure operational excellence and increased customer satisfaction in the coming quarters. The focus was also on leveraging synergies in procurement and expanding access to global customers.

2024 is poised to be a landmark year as Connect Group finalizes the integration of the two companies, creating a unified entity with a strategic presence in ten locations worldwide. The restructured group is now organized into three geographical divisions, with the China site positioned as the focal point in Asia. This reorganization aims to enhance the company's efficiency, agility, and resilience in its supply chain operations.

The meetings in Suzhou served not only as a platform for outlining the new divisional organization and future direction of Connect Group but also facilitated the final handover from the corporate integration team so far in charge of the IKOR plants to the Connect Group Executive Management team. This transition underscores a renewed commitment to fostering a sense of belonging, agile communication, and the exploitation of synergies across the organization.

Key discussions during the meetings included the management of the China plant briefing the executive team on the local challenges and operational strategies. The engagement emphasized the importance of understanding the "new & single" organization, knowledge sharing, relationship consolidation, and optimal resource utilization.

In addition to strategic discussions, the Connect Group's Executive Management seized the opportunity to engage with the plant's main customers, interact with employees, and immerse themselves in Chinese culture. The week was highlighted by a grand celebration of the upcoming "Year of the Wood Dragon," reflecting the rich cultural engagement and commitment of Connect Group in China.

With a robust presence in Suzhou since 2004, Connect Group China stands as a testament to the company's growth and dedication to providing cost-efficient, high-quality EMS solutions in medium to high volumes. The Suzhou facility boasts 15,200 sqm of space employs more than 200 highly skilled professionals, and is equipped with state-of-the-art production and customer focus centers, NPI & prototyping, PCB assembly, and module assembly capabilities.

“Our plant in China is future-ready, poised for our collective growth strategy. It’s worth emphasizing the exceptional qualifications of our staff, the state of the art technology in use, the highly efficient, lean and automated production processes, and the substantial investments made. All these elements guarantee our plant’s ability to fulfill the ambitious growth objectives we’ve established as a group.” Jeroen Tuik. Connect Group CEO

Connect Group's growth trajectory has positioned it as the 21st largest EMS company based in Europe, with over 2700 employees and a turnover of €360M in 2023. This achievement underscores the company's commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction on a global scale.

About Connect Group

Connect Group is a leading EMS provider headquartered in Europe, offering integrated manufacturing solutions and services to global customers. With a strategic presence across Europe, Asia, and America, Connect Group is dedicated to delivering efficient, agile, and resilient supply chain solutions, bolstered by its recent expansion and integration efforts.

For further information, please contact: p.gielen@connectgroup.com