18/12/2007
Change in leadership at CERATIZIT Germany
Jan van der Veen leaving – Andreas Olthoff taking over |
 |
“Now it is important to find one’s own way to follow in the footsteps of a great predecessor.” This is how Andreas Olthoff, new managing director of the CERATIZIT Deutschland GmbH, sees his task. At the beginning of August he followed Jan van der Veen who retired after fifteen years at CERATIZIT.
“I believe that a company cannot be successful without team spirit“, says Andreas Olthoff, new head of CERATIZIT Deutschland GmbH. He sees his style of management as ‘result-oriented’ while allowing employees a good deal of individual responsibility.
A rapid career
The new managing director (age 41) has already gathered experience at the German branch of an American company. He began his career in the field of sales there after studying mechanical and economic engineering. He became key-account manager for northern Europe, subsequently sales manager and was then appointed managing director.
“After fifteen years I was looking for a new professional challenge,“ he states. At CERATIZIT Germany he accepted this challenge. The sales volume of the CERATIZIT group in Germany is >100 million Euros; the sales company employs 65 people. The new managing director says: “I’m happy to have found a growing company with an excellent international position. It is a gratifying and challenging task to contribute to the further success of CERATIZIT.“
Commitment to the Corporate Values
Andreas Olthoff considers Corporate Values an overall concept with important functions. He thinks that the value of communication and an interaction based on trust between superior and team are essential for a continuously growing company. “No company can be successful without the active implementation and experiencing of values,” he says. “I would like make a contribution to this company culture.”His predecessor Jan van der Veen supports this belief: “I have often regretted that we talk a lot about our corporate values but do not always live according to them. Communication matters, trust and respect matter!“ So the change of generations at the vanguard of the CERATIZIT Deutschland GmbH is all settled.
Short description of Andreas Olthoff
Age 41, married
Hobbies: running (marathon), squash, motor-biking
Studies: mechanical and economic engineering
Professional career:
15 years in the German branch of an American company (listed on the stock market) selling hydraulic tools. His positions were
- Junior sales representative
- Key-account manager for northern Europe
- Sales manager
- Managing Director
.
|
Specials
