Keeping a powerful secret.
Caroline Le Bihan, SDMO - Marketing Product Manager, Brest, France and Jim Rummel, KOHLER Power - Marketing Product Manager, Kohler, Wisconsin, U.S.A.
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In October 2016, a seven-year secret was revealed in the power industry: KD Series. Powered by a new line of large KOHLER® diesel engines, this 800- to 4200-kilowatt range of industrial generators provides never-before-attainable opportunities for the KOHLER and SDMO brands.
Two key players in the launch, Caroline Le Bihan, product manager at SDMO Industries in France, and her American counterpart Jim Rummel, senior project manager in Diesel Engines, teamed up to lead the first-time product collaboration between the two brands. Both called it an “earthquake” that shook competitors and a “once in a lifetime” launch.
Pulling off a collaboration this big is easier said than done. Every month, associates from engineering, purchasing, project management and product management from each company met in France or the U.S. Between the monthly flights and countless calls and emails, Jim said he and Caroline and the team built a tremendous amount of trust.
“It was a big challenge to develop this range together. We never did that before,” said Caroline. “Both sides learned a lot from each other.”
With the memorable launch complete, Caroline and Jim continue their business partnership, marketing one of the most transformative Kohler Power products to customers around the world.