Career

After my studies, I worked for 2 years in France, reorganising and restructuring an insolvent manufacturer of car mats returning it to profitable trading. The Product range consisted of OEM parts to the car industry and consumer products for independent retailers and nationwide retail chains. To achieve results, we conducted extensive market research, defined a new marketing strategy and price positioning to determine how best to penetrate the French market. During this period I gained detailed experience working and negotiating with supermarkets, hypermarkets, mail order houses and independent retailers.

In 1980 I joined Otto Golze & Söhne GmbH, a family business founded in 1873. Before being appointed as CEO, I held various positions:

In this capacity, our marketing, pricing and distribution strategy was set and implemented. New markets were analysed in order to organize a successful market position. Partnerships with the major German retailers were established.

We developed and implemented an international sourcing strategy leading to a substantial improvement in buying prices, quality levels and strong supplier partnerships. This included extensive travelling throughout Europe and to Brazil, Mexico, China, India and Sri Lanka.

Product, design and brand development was crucial to our success in Germany, Europe’s most competitive market. Through continuous market research, store checks, the establishment of product development- and design-teams the basis was laid for continuous success not only in Germany but also in key Global markets. Our innovations were setting the pace in the market creating high volume sales and production.

I led Production with a workforce of up to 90 people, new production technologies being implemented, a new € 7 Mio warehouse being built and our warehousing facility in Southern Germany being shifted to Hameln/Emmerthal.

I became CEO in 1991 leading the company to being one of the top players in the German and European market for area rugs, natural floor covering, doormats and stair treads; held this position until 2013 and since 2016 again without being involved in daily operations, thus giving me enough free time for this consulting business.

In 2000 I started a 50/50 joint venture with Indian partners - cocotuft in Kerala a tufted matting manufacturing business. This company today is one of the top 3 exporters of coir and rubber mats out of India.

Successful licence agreements with top designer Lars Contzen as well as with Gruner & Jahr brand Schöner Wohnen further boosted company development.

My major assets are

• a reputation built over decades
• management experience in all aspects from setting up to managing manufacturing and trading business in Germany and globally
• a great network and knowledge base in major market segments such as DIY stores, furniture stores, home centres, supermarkets and hypermarkets, flooring and household wholesalers/retailers, interior decorators and designers, mail order houses.

Meeting and working with people from other cultures I find personally very satisfying with well over 100 visits to India, China, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Mexico, Japan, Korea and all European countries. I am a true global citizen.