James Tan Retires as Managing Director of Mapal Tooling (Thailand); Michael Loefflad Takes Over Leadership of Southeast Asian Subsidiaries

In a recent leadership transition, James Tan, who has served as Managing Director of Mapal Tooling (Thailand) Co Ltd since 2017, retired at the end of April. Michael Loefflad, the current Managing Director of Mapal KK in Japan, has now taken on the responsibility of overseeing both Mapal Tooling (Thailand) and Mapal KK (Japan), strengthening the company’s leadership across Southeast Asia.

A Legacy of Leadership

James Tan’s career with Mapal has spanned several decades, during which he played a pivotal role in the company’s expansion and success in the Southeast Asian market. Tan started his journey with Mapal in 1995, marketing German-made products across Southeast Asia. His role evolved over time, including technical support management, where he was responsible for training and providing technical support throughout the region. He also played a key part in establishing Mapal Malaysia and Mapal Indonesia, significantly contributing to the company’s growth and presence in Southeast Asia.

In 2017, Tan took on the role of managing Mapal Tooling Thailand, where he continued to drive positive development, significantly contributing to the region’s operational success and the company’s long-term strategy in Asia. His dedication to Mapal’s success has been invaluable, and his retirement marks the end of an important era for the company in Southeast Asia.

Michael Loefflad’s New Role

Michael Loefflad, who assumed the role of Managing Director of Mapal KK, Japan in January 2024, now takes on the added responsibility of managing both the Japanese and Thai subsidiaries. Loefflad brings over 20 years of experience in Asia, coupled with extensive industry expertise, which will be essential as he oversees operations across Southeast Asia. His broad understanding of the region’s markets and his leadership experience in Japan position him well for this new challenge.

With this expanded role, Loefflad will continue to drive Mapal’s growth and presence in the Asian market while building upon the solid foundation laid by Tan. His experience is expected to bring fresh perspectives to the company’s regional strategies, ensuring continued success and innovation.