Haier America, a subsidiary of the Haier Group, a Chinese global appliance and consumer electronics company, officially opened its new North American headquarters in Wayne on Monday.
In moving its headquarters last month from Manhattan to Wayne, the company is now the sole occupier of a retrofitted 56,000-square-foot facility on Valley Road. Though the relocation brought roughly 200 jobs along with it from New York to New Jersey, a smaller Manhattan office will still be maintained.
The building became fully operational Aug. 15 and is under a 13-year lease, the company said.
According to the company, Haier distributes its products in over 100 countries and regions and posted global revenues of $29.5 billion last year. Haier America CEO Adrian Micu said Monday that the new facility will allow the company to grow its presence in the U.S.
“I believe that, under the leadership of this state’s administration and its senior members of the Legislature, New Jersey is growing into one of the most business-friendly climates in the United States and our company is excited to play a part in the state’s economic growth,” Micu said. “Haier America is on course to become a brand-name presence in the U.S. marketplace and our move signifies not only our growth to date, but a commitment to increase our market share. As Haier America grows, so will its workforce in New Jersey.”
Micu said access to talent was among the several contributing factors in the company’s decision to relocate to Wayne, adding that, in addition to New Jersey offering students from Princeton and Rutgers, it was “not a coincidence that our new neighbor is William Paterson University.”
The Manhattan headquarters, Micu added, “wasn’t really suitable for our corporate environment.”
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, on hand Monday for the grand opening, congratulated Micu and Haier for choosing New Jersey in its relocation.
“We know you had a choice,” Guadagno said. “We know you could’ve gone anywhere.”
Guadagno jokingly chided the company for its decision to maintain a New York office, but offered instructions for anyone asking where its new headquarters are.
“Speak a little louder when you say you have an office in New Jersey,” Guadagno said.
She also publicly called on Haier to consider New Jersey in any future expansion plans, noting that the state is rich in talent in both science and engineering and boasts close proximity to major metropolitan markets.
Micu later said that while there are no current plans to expand or move any additional operations to New Jersey, he believes the company is poised for growth in North America and will consider all available opportunities.
“As we expand the company, obviously, all the options are on the table,” Micu said.
