stories on hard material matters - Ceratizit S.A.

Change in leadership at
CERATIZIT Germany
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.
Takes over the leadership of the brand: the new managing director
of CERATIZIT Deutschland Gmbh, Andreas Olthoff (left) with his
predecessor Jan van der Veen.
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
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