How JELD-WEN is shaping its culture | Meet the leaders behind change

JELD-WEN’s core value of ‘Improve Every Day’ is at the heart of its cultural transformation. The goal of this culture journey is to continuously build a workplace culture that embodies our values. Andreas Ahammer, culture and capabilities director, and Jeff Birch, senior HR director, global talent, are key leaders of this journey, and they shared insight into the cultural transformation and what it means to them.

Andreas Ahammer leads European cultural transformation

For Andreas, who is spearheading the cultural transformation in Europe, the key to progress lies in strategic action — not simply doing more but doing better. "People used to think that more is more," he explains. "But the reality is, one well-executed initiative can have greater long-term impact than a dozen scattered efforts." 

He’s championing an approach that prioritizes efficiency and effectiveness, ensuring employees and teams work on tasks that truly move the needle rather than getting overwhelmed with unnecessary workload. Andreas and Jeff are working alongside other transformation leaders to make a succinct and powerful plan for JELD-WEN’s future. 

At its core, Andreas’s strategy intertwines capability building with workplace culture, recognizing that transformation must be both structural and cultural. Continuous improvement remains a top priority in the transformation, and employees are given the avenues to develop skills that keep JELD-WEN competitive and adaptive in a fast-changing industry.

Andreas also emphasizes the importance of hearing from employees and shaping the process around them. “Employees are our culture. At the end of the day, we need to know how they feel. We take their feedback and implement it into our strategy,” said Andreas. 

Jeff Birch champions North America culture journey

With a background in consulting, HR strategy, and talent management, Jeff Birch, leading the North America side, brings a wealth of experience to JELD-WEN’s culture journey. He is focused on efficiency, adaptability and positioning the company for long-term success.

Having spent over two decades advising organizations through change, Jeff understands what works and what doesn’t when it comes to cultural transformation. 

Whether it’s financial restructuring, rapid growth, or refining internal processes to create a more effective workplace, he’s built a career helping organizations navigate complex transitions. At JELD-WEN, he sees an opportunity to drive meaningful, long-lasting change by focusing on talent development, cultural alignment and operational excellence.

The JELD-WEN value Jeff most identifies with is invest in people. “We’re shaping a culture that extends beyond our walls," Jeff said. “JELD-WEN is not only a great place to work but should be known as a company that invests in its people.”

With information gathered from employee feedback and a forward look at business goals, Jeff and Andreas put together a comprehensive 2025 Culture Roadmap. “Our 2025 Culture Roadmap connects feedback to action, reinforcing JELD-WEN’s commitment to transparency, trust and accountability at every level,” Jeff said.

JELD-WEN’s culture transformation is more than just an internal shift—it’s a movement that empowers employees, strengthens leadership, and fosters continuous growth. Read more about culture at JELD-WEN here.