German CEO Excellence Awards 2023 Best Modern Logistics CEO 2023 (Western Europe): Aleksandra Marszałek Trans.eu is one of Europe´s leading digital platforms for road transport, connecting freight forwarders and hauliers from Europe to Eurasia. As CEO of such an enterprise, Aleksandra Marszałek has endeavoured to enhance all aspects of the company to an ever-changing logistical landscape. We spoke with Aleksandra to find out more about the company and its work on the back of her well deserved win in the programme.
EU Business News is proud to announce the much-awaited return of the German CEO Excellence Awards 2023, making its way back for the 2nd consecutive year! After the expectation that the country was finally on the road to economic recovery by the end of the year, the recent energy crisis felt throughout the majority of Europe, followed by the knock-on effects on inflation and consumer confidence put this expectation on hold. Various sectors throughout Germany are feeling the pressure placed upon them. Cuts to trade output, a reduction of inventory and supply chain bottlenecks are all examples of the multiple challenges being experienced. Ultimately, a critical threat to German businesses is developing. It is in this turbulent economy, particularly following on from the fluctuations caused by the recent global pandemic that has provided one of the most challenging environments for businesses in the country to persevere and survive, with CEO’s right at the helm! Sofi Parry, Senior Editor Website: www.business-news.eu German CEO Excellence Awards 2023 AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility.
4. Trans.eu GmbH: Best Modern Logistics CEO 2023 (Western Europe): Aleksandra Marszałek 6. Cellex Cell Professionals GmbH: Best Biotechnology Company CEO 2023: Carla Kreissig 8. EJB City GmbH: Custom Software Solutions CEO of the Year (Berlin): Adrian Koepe 10. Regis24 GmbH: Best Business Technology CEO 2023: Gaby Kabbert 12. K4 DIGITAL: Most Innovative Cybersecurity & Automation Expert CEO (D-A-CH): Michael Krammel 14. Humanus Personalservice GmbH: Best Recruitment Entrepreneur 2023 (Bayern): Philipp Erik Breitenfeld 16. Tapster Media GmbH: Most Outstanding Entertainment CEO (Hamburg): Stephan Lewis Lehmann 18. AKRA TEAM Gmbh: Healthcare Industry Strategic Consultancy CEO of the Year 2023: Bassil Akra 20. noah GmbH: Best Smart Buildings CEO 2023: Denny Farkas 22. Rabb IT Solutions GmbH: IT Solutions Entrepreneur of the Year 2023: Rehan Khan 24. Hygiene 100 GmbH: Best Medical Supplies eTail CEO 2023: Chris Elliott 25. Edict eGaming GmbH - Member of Gauselmann Group: Leading Online Casino Solutions CEO (Hamburg): Dominic-Daniel Lienard 26. assetbird GmbH: Real Estate Dealflow Platform CEO of the Year 2023: Tobias Dochow 27. IOM Agency: Most Innovative Digital Marketing Agency CEO 2023: Kathrin Siemokat 28. Heinz Georg GmbH: Best Low Loaders/Trailers Friction Surfaces CEO 29. Sheciety: Most Influential App CEO 2023: Saina Bayatpour 30. Greenforce Future Food AG: Ethical Food Brand CEO of the Year 2023: Hannes-Benjamin Schmitz & Thomas Isermann 31. Albert Handtmann Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG: Food Industry Process Manufacturing CEO of the Year 2023: Harald Suchanka 32. Zhong-Munich Business (Europe) GmbH: International Business Consultancy MD of the Year (Bavaria): Romeo Xue 33. Silsilla GmbH: Best CEO in the Furniture Manufacturing Industry in Germany (Baden-Württemberg) 34. ecotel communication ag: Best Telecoms Company Leader 2023: Markus Hendrich 35. blu:boks gGmbH: Best Children & Youth Education Solutions CEO (Berlin): Carsten Stier 36. Destilla GmbH: Flavour Manufacturing CEO of the Year: Matthias Thienel 37. Tioni GmbH: Agile Transformation CEO of the Year (Germany): Holger Dittombée 38. logsight.ai GmbH: Most Innovative Data Analytics CEO 2023: Alexander Acker 39. Taddicken GmbH: Household Retail CEO of the Year 2023: Tim Taddicken40. ICONIC SALES: Best Advertising & Visual Branding CEO 2023: Stefan Gutheil 41. inboundBUZZ: Best Inbound Marketing CEO 2023: Sylvana Duranovic 42. Silvia Glaser Executive Coaching: Executive Coach of the Year 2023 (DACH): Silvia Glaser 43. TKUC GmbH: Telecommunications Support CEO of the Year 2023: Thomas Kress 44. studiokurbos GmbH: Best Automotive Design CEO (Stuttgart): Andreas Kurbos 45. People Consulting: Executive Recruitment CEO of the Year 2023 (Bavaria): Verena Fritzenwenger 46. MOESCHTER Group: HighPerformance Materials CEO of the Year 2023: Georgios Kabitoglou 47. Michael Lampel Consulting: Best Gaming Marketing CEO 2023: Michael Lampel 48. Kagerer & Co. GmbH: Leading Seafood & Delicatessen Importer CEO (Bavaria): Christoph Kagerer 49. yim GmbH & Co. KG: Enterprise Service Management MD of the Year 2023: Jonas Bernard 50. MAGING GmbH: Virtual Technology CEO of the Year 2023: Christian Braun 51. Digital Future: Best Staffing & Recruiting Managing Partner 2023: Lucas Bechtle Contents
4. Jan23545 Best Modern Logistics CEO 2023 (Western Europe): Aleksandra Marszałek If the COVID-19 pandemic made one thing absolutely clear it is that the logistics and transport industries are vital to the continued operation of, well, the world. Regardless of location, size, or sector, logistics plays a role. Even as the world grows ever more digital, logistics will remain for some time yet, working alongside its partners and clients to grow and move into other markets. With some 40,000 companies in its user base, Trans.eu remains one of the largest businesses of its kind, as Aleksandra discusses in more detail. “With 18 years in the European transport market we have been at the forefront of developing cutting-edge technological solutions for the road transport industry. We help freight forwarders to manage their hauliers and find extra capacity fast and safely. At the same time, our platform helps to boost the efficiency of compliance checks, communication and transport assignment with advanced tools for freight- and carrier management. With now more than 40 countries connected to our network, we strive to make the industry more technology-savvy, effective, transparent and sustainable. In summary, we want to make European road transport SMART & FAIR.” Aleksandra’s professional career started early, her business acumen and savvy on display during her initial studies, before blossoming into a career in sales and project management and her eventual start at Trans.eu. “I started with Trans.eu in 2020 as the person responsible for E-Commerce processes in Western Europe. Due to quick successes in improving managerial aspects of the company, I was promoted twice culminating in my appointment as the CEO of Western Europe, managing Trans.eu GmbH, Trans.eu BV and Trans.eu Yazilim Ltd. Sti (in Türkiye). “As to using my experience to succeed, I first try to stay true to my principles that I have developed over the years.” Like any great leader, Aleksandra fundamentally understands when to allow her team Trans.eu is one of Europe s leading digital platforms for road transport, connecting freight forwarders and hauliers from Europe to Eurasia. As CEO of such an enterprise, Aleksandra Marszałek has endeavoured to enhance all aspects of the company to an ever-changing logistical landscape. We spoke with Aleksandra to find out more about the company and its work on the back of her well deserved win in the program. to exercise their expertise. Trust is the foundation for her leadership style, as she explains. “Above all, I place my trust in my team. I believe that there can never be great business and project results without the commitment of dedicated team members. Alone you can achieve a lot, but with a great team, you can achieve everything! So I am extremely grateful for the people I was assigned to work with or had the chance to bring into the company. It is great to see how committed they are, how much they support each other and how much they care about achieving our common goals. As to my personal approach - there is nothing special to tell. I always try to be a person - a person who is normal, content, hard- headed and sticks to her principles while still being open-minded.” “My day-to-day responsibility consists of keeping the company going forward, internally managing sales, operations, marketing and administration teams. When it comes to external aspects, I participate in various industry events, appear as a speaker from time to time, do interviews, engage in meetings with customers and partners and engage in problem solving sessions to develop successful strategies together with my team. My own strategy to achieve goals is to make sure that our people feel comfortable within their teams, understand the company's vision and the goals we are pursuing. I see it as vital to create an open environment for experimentation and some degree of trial and error. I really want to stimulate creativity and a sense of ownership among our employees. In addition, being consistent in my actions and leading by example for team members.” Let’s go back to where we started this piece and talk about COVID-19, and recent upheaval for the global business landscape. For Aleksandra and Trans.eu, the last few years have been challenging but offered numerous learning opportunities. “2022 was a very dynamic year in the transport logistics sector. Supply Chain bottlenecks caused by covid as well as rising energy and material prices, rapidly led to increased logistics Company Name:Trans.eu GmbH Contact Name: Aleksandra Marszałek Address: Stresemannstraße 123, 10963 Berlin, Germany Web Address: https://tff.trans.eu/en/ Contact Email: [email protected] Telephone Number: +49 (0) 30 577 141 210
Best Modern Logistics CEO 2023 (Western Europe): Aleksandra Marszałek service costs. It is not to be expected that the price increase will suddenly be slowed down anytime soon. Shifts in supply and demand cannot be ruled out either due to mounting geopolitical crises and risks. The logistics industry already had its first experience in the vulnerability of digital infrastructure. At the same time, a strong trend towards increased automation and the expanded use of artificial intelligence continues to emerge. Cyber security is thus becoming an increasingly important factor and investments in corresponding software systems will increase. Also our company is paying attention to these trends and figuring them into our solutions.” “Managing the team during the covid, when most people were confined to their homes was really tough as most people were not used to this. Outside of working hours, they also struggled with fear, uncertainty and the concern for their families. Then came the war in Ukraine which is still a major challenge - emotionally, economically and politically as our head office is geographically closer to the conflict zone than us in Western Europe. It s a big difference. However, as a company we were always able to deal with the cards we were dealt, and always found a way to develop despite all the hardship.” So, we come to the future of Trans.eu. Perhaps predictably, with all of the above in mind, the company has big plans to compound its recent expansion into new markets. Here, Aleksandra concludes on the future of the company in her closing comments. “The main focus in the coming year will be on continuing the successful expansion in Western Europe and Türkiye. To this end, an ever closer integration of sales, marketing and customer service will be forged. This also involves increasing the level of automation of relevant marketing and sales processes and streamlining the work of service providers. In addition, Trans. eu is planning to develop new technology partnerships with other leading platform players and providers of digital tools for the transport industry. I would like to stay myself and continue to do my job to the best of my ability. I think the greatest successes are yet to come. And at the same time I would like to do something good - one such dream that we re working on, is continuing to develop our non-profit foundation work to support women professionals in transport logistics. “Finally, I would like to thank my wonderful team - this is really their reward. If it were not these wonderful people, I would not have come this far - to be nominated for this award. Thank you and let's show what else we can do!”
6. Medicine is developing at a breakneck pace, fed as it is with technological innovation and best in class biotechnological discoveries. It would be an understatement to say that this is a competitive industry, with companies of all sizes and locations pushing the industry ever-forwards, everonwards towards betterment. As a group of companies, Cellex has an advantage over its competitors and peers – collating experts of various disciplines and fields, it can adapt to the needs of this ever-changing landscape. Here, Carla discusses Cellex’s operations and focus. “It all started with the Cellex Collection Centers – one located in the east and one in the western part of Germany. We run the largest and most experienced stem cell and bone marrow collection centers for allogeneic unrelated donations. During the past 20 years, we performed more than 50.000 collection procedures. That means 50.000 patients all over the world were transplanted with a product collected in Dresden or Cologne. “When immunotherapy became a new option in cancer treatment Cellex founded CMT Cellex Manufacturing, Transport and Logistics. This company runs the Cellex Cell Manufacturing Plant in Cologne with 1300 sqm clean rooms, 450 sqm lab area, cryostorage and warehouse. In contrast to other CDMOs we run our own logistics and transport department because we are convinced supply chain is key for successful CGT business. CMT serves as a CDMO for clients – big pharma and small biotech – and manufactures different products. We are very proud that we were able to accompany two of our customers with three products from clinical phase to commercial phase. The very latest achievement is the manufacturing license Best Biotechnology Company CEO 2023: Carla Kreissig Cellex is a group of companies all housed under one roof, and all dedicated to deliver treatment options for patients suffering from malignant diseases. As CEO, Carla Kreissig plays a crucially important role in delivering innovative, next generation solutions to some of the worst diseases plaguing humanity. We spoke with Carla following her success in the programme to find out more about Cellex’s work. Jan23337 for an allogeneic CAR-T product produced by using a viral vector and CRISPR Cas for genetic manipulation. “Our smallest company is CMS Cellex Medical Services. CMS runs a donor registry with dedicated donors. The purpose of the registry is to provide starting material for research and development and allogeneic cell and gene therapy products. In addition, CMS has its own collection center, where the customized products are collected.” By being a series of companies under a larger label, Cellex is able to fast-track development, unhindered as it is with external collaboration and restrictions. If a solution is promising, Cellex is fully equipped to get the product to market. This is biotech without inhibition or bottlenecks, which has allowed the company to, simply, outmanoeuvre competitors who struggle to keep pace. Let’s switch to Carla’s expertise in particular, and the skills she has utilised to help Cellex grow from strength to strength. Naturally, any leader of a company as forward-thinking in the space as Cellex, needs a thorough education in the industry. “I am a physician by education and hold an MBA degree. I started my training in transfusion medicine at a university hospital and worked for several years in the bone marrow and stem cell transplantation department. Very early in my career I was involved in the treatment of patients suffering from life threatening diseases. “In the 70´s first bone marrow donor registries were founded with the aim to find a matched donor for patients suffering from leukaemia. In the 90´s, when I got my specific education, the bone marrow collection has been replaced by peripheral blood stem cell mobilisation and collection. At that time, I was one of the first physicians in the university hospital who was in charge of this very new technique, which helped to make transplantation available for much more patients. However, over the years we learned that transplantation can’t cure every patient. Therefore, immunotherapeutic approaches have been developed and I was lucky to get the possibility not only to be in charge of one of the world´s largest allogeneic stem cell collection centers with up to 4.000 collections per year, but also to build a completely new company under the roof of Cellex group specialised in cell and gene therapy manufacturing.” Carla’s approach to management allows for her team’s expertise and initiative to flourish, as she moves on to explain in more detail. “My style is management by exception. That gives my team a lot of room to develop concepts. Not everyone likes this open space. However, it gives the possibility to grow in the organisation. Key for my success is the Cellex team. Every single team member burns for the task to “Every time a new therapeutic option is developed, there is a bottleneck regarding collection or manufacturing capacity. We want to provide appropriate resources to bring these options into the clinic as fast as possible.”
7. Best Biotechnology Company CEO 2023: Carla Kreissig help extremely ill patients. That creates a very positive and constructive atmosphere.” “In our opinion it is not sufficient to be successful, it is more important to stay successful over a long time.” Finally, Carla concludes with her plans for the future, and how she aims to build on Cellex’s prestigious work. “Our aim in 2023 is to develop the approach of allogeneic immunotherapy products. Cellex is in the front row of ambitioned European Contract Manufacturing and Development Organisations (CDMO). We would love to be recognized as THE CDMO for allogeneic products. I am sure we are perfectly positioned with our concept to have the combination of donor registry for research and development and a collection center in CMS and manufacturing capacity in CMT. “My plan is to grow and mature the Cellex team further. I am still too much involved in day-to-day business in this company. However, I will be stepping back more and more over the next years to let the young generation grow. That will give me more time to develop new ideas. We already have some in mind…” Company: Cellex Cell Professionals GmbH Name: Carla Kreissig, CEO Email: [email protected] Web Address: www.cellex.me
Jul22546 8. riginally established in 1999 by colleagues from the ashes of GMB Fokus Forschungszentrum Informationstechnik GmbH, today EJB City is an independent IT consulting company defined by client-centricity and a honed expertise for all things IT and tech. As Adrian correctly outlines in his initial comments, the future of business is going to rely ever-more heavily on the efficient adoption of technological infrastructure. In that space, and with that looming over companies of all sizes, EJB City has built a reputation through meeting and exceeding all expectations – and, in Adrian’s words, “work with them in the spirit of partnership and mutual trust”. “The future success of many companies depends largely on their ability to innovate and differentiate. In addition, many companies today demand an IT partner with whom they can discuss the business potential of technological innovations just as competently as they can discuss concrete solution scenarios for their technical implementation. The objective of our consulting is the project planning, design and implementation of tasks in the entire field of information technology. “With this in mind, we are happy to assume project responsibility for the entire duration of the project. This includes project and quality management, the procedure, the methods and processes used, right through to operational build, change and release management. We convince through competence, creativity, flexibility and the quality of our work!” But EJB City isn’t ‘just’ a software company. There’s a second pillar which works to support the first: research. In this role, the company participates in numerous EU research projects within the automotive, e-health/tele-medicine and adaptive communication fields, among others, to bolster their current solutions. This pillar, alongside its work within the more direct commercial space, has allowed the company to gain a unique advantage in the space, as Adrian explains. “Our methodological approaches are derived from extensive and long-standing experience from large-scale projects and from various industries. Our core competencies are in the banking, insurance, automotive, public administration, e-commerce and pharmaceutical industries. Our experience is an important building block for the success of our customers.” “The success of EJB City GmbH lies in the creation of corporate value for our customers through competent IT management consulting.” Custom Software Solutions CEO of the Year (Berlin): Adrian Koepe Technology will, eventually if it hasn’t already, compile a solution to every problem. Well, less technology itself and more the innovators utilising it. And there are numerous innovators in this space, creating exceptional solutions to all manner of problems that plague every industry on the planet. Adrian Koepe fits this mould entirely, with his company, EJB City GmbH (EJB City), looking to deliver truly custom software solutions to its clients. Another area of key distinction lies in the company’s ability to be flexible and dynamic – often working with freelancers to patch any competency issues if needed. This also highlights the company’s transparency and awareness of what it does well, and where its strengths lie as a whole. “The GmbH is small and also works with freelancers, because many of the won projects are very different in terms of technological requirements and experience. It is precisely for these assignments that the freelancers bring a high degree of cflexibility and professionalism, which further contributes to the success of the GmbH. Another factor in the success of the GmbH is that it is open to innovative technologies in their entirety, is a club of motivated quick thinkers, is open to different approaches and unorthodox perspectives, and stands for solutionoriented consulting and implementation of customised applications for a variety of clients from different industries.” But, let’s turn the focus onto Adrian for a moment. After all, as CEO, he plays an undoubtedly central role in driving the path the company takes. From the outset, it’s clear technology and software remain passions at the centre of Adrian’s ongoing work. “As a graduated computer scientist, I have worked as a software developer, scientist for different research institutes (e.g. Telis, France Telekom SA Paris, GMD FOKUS Berlin, ICI Bucharest), or private companies during my studies and after that. And also nowadays, besides my job as CEO for EJB City GmbH, I am working as a software developer or architect, or project manager for different customers. My focus lies in the area of J2EE/ J2SE applications, web applications, integration/ transformation and architecture definition, as well as concept development. In numerous long-term and often international projects I have shown that I can successfully work together with different personalities, stakeholders and departments and take responsibility for the final result. “Over time, I have taken on other roles in various client projects, such as team leader, tester, quality manager, project manager, etc. These experiences over several years have brought me further professionally and broadened my mindset and horizon. Sensible architectures are an essential key to the success of IT projects. I like to help clients to structure their processes and applications, to separate business and technical aspects, to specify the interaction of components by means of meaningful interfaces and to ensure compliance with all functional and non-functional requirements.” Finally, Adrian takes a moment to conclude on the subject of his team, and his leadership style. “As the owner and managing director of the company, I always have to ensure an optimal, friendly, robust, mutually beneficial, respectful O Company: EJB City GmbH Name: Adrian Koepe Email: [email protected] Web Address: www.ejb-city.de / www.ejb-city.com Address: Herthastr. 23A, 14193 Berlin Telephone: +49 30 236245 56 / +49 176 2386 000 1 Jan23168
9. and economical relationship between the GmbH and the customers, but also between the GmbH and the employees / freelancers. All employees should first and foremost have fun and success in their work activities without affecting their family or economic circumstances.
10. We rely on data every day, often in ways we cannot know. Data too, is collected on most of our actions and interactions. That’s just a fact of life, and a facet of living in this modern, ever more digital world. There’s also a lot of misinformation around data, in terms of what it is used for, who has access to it, and how it is controlled. Luckily, with new regulations being implemented, the consumer is being empowered to better understand how their data is used by any individual company. Trust then, is something that is gradually improving between consumers and businesses. Regis24 aims to accelerate that trust through accurate and reliable data use. Here, Gaby begins by explaining the ethos, mission and vision behind the company. “Our vision is a world where data provides real trust between companies and consumers in business relationships. With Regis24, companies will be able to make the right decisions in their sales process - thanks to a detailed weighing of risk and opportunity. As a data-tech company, we at Regis24 are convinced that the traditional information and scoring principles have Best Business Technology CEO 2023: Gaby Kabbert Data makes the world go round, at least in this data-driven world we find ourselves in, with all companies looking to gain an edge through a better, more accurate, understanding of consumer behaviour. As CEO of Regis24 GmbH, Gaby Kabbert helps drive and accelerate this process for her client base. We talked with Gaby on the back of her success in the programme. Jan23627 had their day. It is wiser to correctly interpret the economic reality of consumers through their data. Regis24's vision is therefore a revolution: we believe in Digital Identity in terms of the consumer's economic footprint, using positive data in combination with the known negative data. “Thus, it will be possible for each company to decide individually, in real time, to what extent trust is justified in the respective upcoming purchase process - for exclusively risk-free business relationships between digital companies and real people without identity fraud and for consumers who have decided for themselves which data they have made available to whom, at which point for their own evaluation.” In her position as CEO of Regis24, Gaby has utilized a hard-won and hard-earned degree of experience through past managerial positions, particularly in sales and marketing departments. “I have always paid close attention to people, and this is how I have achieved success,” Gaby adds. Of course, despite the foundation of the company being utterly modern in terms of services, any business leader must understand that client-centricity needs to underpin every offering, especially when you consider the current consumer-first paradigm. Consumers like companies that cater to their needs, and adapt where able. In this, Regis24 regards every new client as a partner, with the aim to build a long-term partnership through transparency and honesty. “We always approach projects in a collaborative manner. Only together can we be successful. The company also makes sure that we keep up to date with the latest trends – market observation is essential to the ways in which we operate. After all, our industry is constantly changing and at the moment the pressure is particularly high due to the prevailing circumstances and various crises. This makes it more difficult, but all the more important, to orientate oneself to the changing needs of customers at an early stage or to bring them on board as partners right from the start.” There can be no doubt that Regis24 is a modern company in almost every sense of the word. From its services and solutions, to its approach to client and consumer behaviors and needs. That’s perhaps only to be expected considering what the company does ‘for a living’ – driving for a better understanding between client and consumer, and accelerating efficiency in understanding and utilizing data. Yet, one of the biggest challenges for Regis24 moving forwards, and for Gaby in particular, is to continue to break down the old to make way for the new, in numerous ways across the company and in the greater sector. The industry is still relatively new, after all, and some of the initial steps in creating and building such a company rely on infrastructure better suited to older business models. “My toughest challenge is definitely to break down old, encrusted structures in order to make processes leaner and more future-proof.” And that is what the foreseeable has in store for Gaby, and where her plans for the remainder of the year lie. Data moves at lightning speed, as does technology, and for those working in the industry, keeping pace of developments is almost a full time job in and of itself. Thriving in the industry takes a considerable talent indeed, and it stands as a strong testament that Gaby and Regis24 have secured the reputation they enjoy. Her talent as a leader is remarkable, and her future – as well as Regis24 – seems very bright indeed. Company: Regis24 GmbH Name: Gaby Kabbert, CEO Email: [email protected] Web Address: www.regis24.de Address: Alte Rhinstr. 16, 12681 Berlin Telephone: +49 30 44350 240 “My goal is to shape the company into a market leader in the long term.”
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Jul22546 12. he world’s leading companies and most influential leaders often tout an ability to be ‘innovative’. But what does that really mean? And if everyone is aiming for innovative products and services, is no one innovative? That’s certainly a position that is held among many of the more pessimistic corporate analysts. However, Michael Krammel, CEO of K4 DIGITAL aims to reinvent what it means to be innovative, and moreover, accelerate innovation within the cybersecurity and automation. That’s no small feat, but it is one that Michael certainly seems able to achieve. “K4 DIGITAL consists of a team of interdisciplinary experts, some of whom have been working successfully in the security, automation, and digital factory environment for over 20 years. Our experts are regarded as leading, innovative thought leaders in the Germanspeaking market for industrial security. In addition, the team is involved in numerous innovative research and funding projects and actively supports committees, associations and working groups, such as VDI, DKE, Platform Industrie 4.0, AKW and many more. “For years, our customers have attested our exceptional expertise, solution-oriented implementations and a pronounced understanding of the challenges of projects in security, automation and digitalization at all organization levels and structures, from management to IT management to the production level.” Michael’s passion for technology and automation stemmed from the 1990s, and was swiftly and firmly encouraged on the wave of technological adoption and development that defined the decade, as he continues. “After my training in automation and process control engineering in the 1990s at a large industrial company, I took over the Most Innovative Cybersecurity & Automation Expert CEO (D-A-CH): Michael Krammel Cybersecurity and automation are among the most competitive and swift-moving industries on the greater business landscape. As CEO of K4 DIGITAL, Michael Krammel has become adept at excelling despite incredible competition and the highest of standards. set-up, development and management of a new department for the automation of process engineering plants with, in the end, over 30 employees. Very early on, we took advantage of the possibilities of automation and began to network technical processes with business processes. By the end of the 1990s, we had reached such a high level of automation maturity, that I wanted to take on further challenges. “In 1999, I began my work with a startup/spinoff as a GmbH & Co. KG and took over the responsibility for the development of solutions and know-how building around the topic "Digital Factory". In parallel, I established a competence and service center for automation and process control technology in 2003. After an international impulse from the USA, we then decided to build up a new business area about Industrial/OT Security from 2006 on. Today, we are still seen as a first mover in the DACH market. In 2008, I also accepted the role as CEO. This was a very difficult time in the development of the new business area. The other operational areas, such as software development for the digital factory and process control technology often financed the development of the Industrial/OT Security business area.” It would be a colossal understatement to say that the Industrial/ OT Security space was undervalued in those early days, with most opinions on the matter vastly underestimating the extent to which the market would boom over the next few decades. While some many say Michael was in the right place at the right time, that would overlook the significant skill and expertise it took to mold this new business area into something that remained pacesetting, driven. “Over the following years, we transformed step by step the establishment and transformation of the Industrial Security business field as an increasingly central business of the company. For several years in parallel, I participated in coaching and business mediator trainings to be able to use the methods and insights gained from this training to help me with the increasingly difficult organizational challenges in the area of digitalization and security. “In 2017, my two co-shareholders left the company as part of an M&A process, while I remained within the company as CEO with a put and call option and in 2020 I decided to pull my put option and leave the company as well. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my colleagues and the two co-partners from the time before the new shareholder joined the company, for the many great experiences and the often enjoyable time I had with the company, and especially for the trust they placed in me.” T Name: Michael Krammel Email: [email protected] Web Address: www.k4.digital Address: Alfred-Nobel-Allee 38, 66793 Saarwellingen, Germany Telephone: +49 6831 6879 0 Jan23866 "Fantasy is way more important than knowledge because knowledge is limited." "“Learning is experience. Everything else is just information." Albert Einstein
13. It is here that K4 DIGITAL took shape, and came into being in September 2020, forged from both old talent and new. “The extraordinary and outstanding success of K4 since the start in 2020 was created by all these people together. One of my most important personal experiences, also from many difficult years before, is: Above all, success depends on the team, the right players in the team and the framework in which they can act. With K4, we have taken the opportunity to work in a completely new organizational form since its founding. Everyone is involved in decisions, but also in responsibilities. The good news: something like this works when the right people come together. The security business, especially industrial/OT Security, has a lot to do with trust. If you want to be successful in this business, it is important to win the customer's trust right from the beginning and to continuously confirm this trust with high authenticity, good value systems and professional competence.” “I perceive that an increasingly important aspect of success in the cooperation with our customers is the factor that we have transformed the classic consulting approach (“the consultant knows what is right!”) into a coaching approach. We work out solutions together with our customers at eye level, moderate them through the process and bring in expertise where it is necessary. This usually leads to the customer identifying his solution himself and making his own decision at the end of the process.” Today, K4 DIGITAL remains a formidable presence through its coaching and consultancy, achieving real, observable results for its clients. With the demand for industrial security only continuing to rise, the company is well positioned to experience further, meteoric, growth moving forwards. For Michael, the key will be ensuring the high standards remain, and the solutions stay best in class. “Together with the right allies is the key to success. The demand for industrial security support in the market is continuously increasing. While this is also due to the regulatory aspect, fortunately companies are also increasingly recognizing that they need to do more in this regard. On the other hand, we see that the already serious shortage of skilled workers and specialists will continue to increase over the next few years. We therefore urgently need to further automate the handling of security. K4 is facing up to this further development when dealing with security with new platform concepts, services and research projects. “We have taken the opportunity to work in a completely new organizational form since the founding of K4. This Team of Teams approach is for us an important key to mastering the transformation of cybersecurity & digitalization in times of increasing complexity and dynamics. Interacting together in cross-functional dynamic teams within the company and beyond the company's boundaries makes it possible to find and establish suitable answers for overcoming the transformation challenges. Important for success is a trusting cooperation with guiding principles that regulate the interaction. Nothing is set in stone - not even the guiding principles, as these may also only be an answer to the current valid solution or challenge.” But what does Michael’s future entail? How does he plan to capitalise on his expertise and experiences moving forwards? The answer is: further development, further pursuits, and further promotion of his talent. “K4 DIGITAL was deliberately set up to be self-organizing and we are sure that we will further optimize this going forwards. We have great people in the company who live these thoughts and approaches operationally and take responsibility. Thankfully, this model will give me more freedom to create new topics in the future. Currently, all my K4 activities, from sales, business development, operational projects with customers, coaching challenges, knowhow transfer, research, being able to work with great people give me so much positivity that I don't want to miss it. I could very well imagine offering my expertise in "My personal and professional experiences" as a coach to startups, for example. Besides that, I plan to write at least one book.” As for the company itself, 2023 looks to be an exciting time when it comes to building on K4 DIGITAL’s R&D, as Michael concludes in his closing comments. “In 2023 we will expand our research and development activities on cybersecurity automation. With our collaborative platform “trust4mation” we will introduce new business and service models to the market and try to establish them. Our mission in the context of "Digital Trust" to develop sustainable solutions and concepts together with our customers is a daily process that accompanies all other activities.” Name: Michael Krammel Email: [email protected] Web Address: www.k4.digital Address: Alfred-Nobel-Allee 38, 66793 Saarwellingen, Germany Telephone: +49 6831 6879 0 “This approach generates far more sustainable successes and results.”
14. Best Recruitment Entrepreneur 2023 (Bayern): Philipp Erik Breitenfeld Jan23691 “Our name is our mission: At Humanus, the focus is on people.” Humanus has a dream to refocus recruitment on its most central element, people. Because, ultimately, there’s only so much technological implementation and processes and data can do when it comes to finding the right person for a job. You need to understand people, what they want, what they need, and what they are looking for in their ideal company. As a recruitment company, you are the middle man, juggling clients and their individual needs alongside potential recruits – it’s challenging, and it is so very easy to become so results-focused that you lose sight of the people at the middle of it all. Yet, Humanus and Philipp have created an impressive reputation through managing the hectic day to day with an unwavering focus and dedication on the people it serves. And in this goal, the results speak for themselves, as Philipp explains. “Our goal is the sustainable placement of workers from other EU countries in the first German Labour market. In the past -almost- 10 years we have successfully had over 4000 Specialists recruited and placed sustainably. Tailored to the individual, we train candidates and take over the entire needs of our customers bureaucratic process and intercultural communication. “We are currently an employer for 700 people and, on the one hand, take on consciously responsibility towards our applicants as well as towards those asking for help companies on the other side. Our know-how, our competence and the enthusiasm for what we do is what makes our expertise so convincing. Our values, the three Pillars of Humanus, are attitude, perseverance, and innovation.” While Humanus specialises predominantly in temporary recruitment solutions, it has made a significant impact in the permanent placement market too, cultivating a robust and close-knit network of expert partners across the greater European market. After all, as Philipp rightly explains, there can be an aspect of insecurity when hiring temporary positions – and many are looking to avoid such insecurity in this post-pandemic market – so Humanus finds “skilled workers that can be taken on permanently if necessary, which helps secure the future of every company in this challenging environment.” Recruitment is all about people, that much at least is undoubtable for those in the industry. Success relies on an ability to understand people, alongside business culture and the individual needs of the clients they serve. As Managing Director/CEO of Humanus Personalservice GmbH. (Humanus), Philipp Erik Breitenfeld has taken a person-centred approach to a whole new level – let’s take a deep dive into the company to find out more. All in all, this is really where Humanus excels: creating security and peace of mind at a time when many companies can’t expend the resources. The company takes the lead, and shoulders the responsibility with notable flexibility to best serve its client’s needs. “We are: Temporary work redefined. Is it about flexibility or effectiveness? Can capacities be maintained or even increased? No matter how, no matter what: we are there when you need us!” “We understand that recruitment is a stressful process, and in the best sense, we position ourselves as all inclusive. If you wish, we can take over every step of the recruitment process. From employee leasing to direct placement to on-site management (master vendor contract), outsourcing, trainee search. We want our employees to be happy. That's why we don't just hire workers, we also fight for their rights. We offer exciting jobs that are challenging but also fun. By creating and encouraging this mindset and culture, we attract ‘experts who burn’ – people defined entirely by reliability, professional competence and willingness to learn, that’s the criteria we primarily use to recruit “our” employees. Where there is a talent gap in the market, we aim to train, and train, and train people to become hands-on specialists. We give language courses, provide apartments, and we take care of personal matters. That’s Humanus, that’s ethical recruiting.” There’s little doubt as to why Humanus has pioneered a new movement on the German occupational landscape. Through its ethical centre, to its steadfast and unwavering commitment to best serving people on all sides of the process, it has become a pillar of the market, a pacesetter. In this ever-changing post-pandemic world, we need businesses like Humanus to establish benchmarks and best practices for others to follow. These businesses are vital as we look to shift paradigms in this new corporate world – innovation and creativity are vital tools on which to build ‘better’ in the recruitment sphere. By all regards, the recognition in the EU Business Awards is well-deserved and well-won, with Philipp acting as an innovator for recruitment on a global scale. Watch this space, and watch how Humanus grows over the coming few years. Exciting things are ahead, we’re sure. Company Name: Humanus Personalservice GmbH Contact Name: Franziska Langer, Assistant to the CEO Address: Humanus Personalservice GmbH, Nürnberger Str. 64, 86720 Nördlingen Web Address: www.humanus.de Contact Email: [email protected] Telephone Number: 09081/78959-89
Best Technology Development Company - Capital Region of Denmark
16. Jan23290 Most Outstanding Entertainment CEO (Hamburg): Stephan Lewis Lehmann But first things first – what is lively story? How does it look to revolutionise the entertainment space in a way that marks Tapster Media’s offerings as different, even in a greater landscape defined by incredible innovation and development? To start, Stephan gets stuck in to describe how Tapster Media is looking to change the global market. “lively story is a revolutionary new form of digital entertainment. It breaks down the boundaries between novel, audio book and film or TV series. It combines the functions of the smartphone or tablet, with the elements of classic and modern storytelling. lively story provides movie, video, audio, music and image in combination with the classic medium of text, chats, incoming and outgoing calls, speech bubbles and all in a completely "new” outfit and form of storytelling.” lively story, ultimately, plays a key role in defining the company’s vision, filling out how Tapster Media approaches the market and client base. “As a new, self-sufficient and fast-growing digital leisure medium, lively story is set to become an integral part of entertainment offerings worldwide, in streaming and individual purchases across all target groups and easy availability in all relevant digital distribution channels,” Stephan adds. Stephan himself joined the company only last year as a consultant, brought in to upskill the company and further establish itself. Crucially, Jasmin understood what her skills were, and where she would need help to fill skill gaps. “Initially, I worked for Tapster with a focus on proof of concept, building up the license business, creating a 5-year business plan and preparing the search for investors, including the pitch deck. Since Jasmin, as a software and creative mastermind, and I, as a media professional with many years of experience in building and managing large companies, complement each other perfectly, we then took the step towards a joint company in November, in which I stepped into the company as late-stage founder and stepped into the role as CEO,” he explains, before moving on to discuss his experience and expertise in more detail, alongside how he was drawn to Tapster Media as a business. Founded in 2020 by entrepreneur and bestselling author Jasmin Wollesen, Tapster Media has established itself firmly in the space through innovation and its core, digital product: “lively story”. We spoke with CEO Stephan Lewis Lehmann to find out more on the back of his well-deserved win in the programme. “In terms of being CEO, I bought some 20 years of professional experience in the film industry in a C-level position. In addition to the experience of managing large companies, I have outstanding experience in the areas of operations, development, structuring and restructuring of organizations, new companies and business fields, including marketing and sales. Plus, I an excellent network of creative people and filmmakers. I do have excellent contacts to actors, creative people and production companies, as well as international distributors. “I immediately fell in love with the product, and I saw the great potential in lively story to create and consume stories in a completely new way. In addition, I was drawn to the diverse business opportunities for which this software and the product can be used. In addition to the obvious B2C content offerings, we will also use the software in the B2B segment as Software as a Service (SaaS).” For now, Tapster Media is still a relatively small company, navigating its early days with the combined expertise of Jasmin and Stephan. The team, as small as it is, continues on the path that Jasmin established – adding skilled people who believe in the strength of the product. “First of all, there is our (still) small team, who work on lively story with a great deal of enthusiasm, passion and love. Then, in the area of licensed products, we have licensors who all, without exception, believe in our product and support us in every respect. We are currently negotiating more than 30 licensed titles, all of which are well known around the world and have a correspondingly large reach. In addition, we work with our own authors and media designers who work on our own "lively original" productions. We now have over 100 titles of our own, which are constantly growing. The "lively creator" segment will go live in 2024. Here we offer filmmakers and creative people the opportunity to use our software, create their own works and post them on our platform and monetise them.” It almost goes without saying to state that the digital entertainment sphere has Company Name: Tapster Media GmbH Contact Name: Stephan Lehmann Address: Neuer Wall 41 20354 Hamburg Germany Web Address: www.tapster-media.com Contact Email [email protected] Telephone Number: +491732989135
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