THOMAS RENNEBAUM

PORTRAITTHOMAS RENNEBAUMMarketing DirectorVolkswagen Financial Services AG1. What did you aspire to be when you were a child?I wanted to become a famous basketball player in the NBA. Unfortunately, Iwas not talented enough, so I decided to start my career as a banker.2. What is/are the highlight(s) of your current role?In my current role I face new challenges every day. Working together withthe Volkswagen brands, the variety of topics gives me different insights andkeeps me open minded.3. In which role do you think you work best?I have two roles: the support of the sales of the Volkswagen brands by establishingnew financial products and services on the one hand, and the managementof cross functional teams and challenges on the other hand.4. What was your biggest transformation? What did you learn?I have always worked in sales and customer oriented businesses, and it isan ongoing and never ending challenge to develop and keep the teams andorganizations in a customer orientated way. I am still learning never to losethat focus.5. Which countries have you worked in and in which country would youlike to work? Why?I have not worked abroad for a longer period of time yet. So far, I have nofavorite country in mind. All would depend on the specific circumstancesand opportunities.6. What do you think are the three most important factors for being successfulin life?Passion, authenticity, and the right focus.7. From which failure have you learned the most?At the beginning of my career as a banker I had to learn that trust in customerrelations is not always the one and only thing. When you lend moneyto someone you have to be sometimes very strict and impolite, even rude.8. What are the three most important virtues of a superior?Keeping promises.Giving confidence.Setting goals, leading and supporting the way to achieve them.9. What qualities do you appreciate most in your employees?A combination of taking over responsibilities, being open minded and creative,as well as being on a high professional level.10. In which area did you train yourself recently?In the topic “getting things done”, which means the process of better executingprojects and strategic topics.

11. What annoys you most in your daily role? And what do you do aboutit?Fruitless meetings and endless discussions.I try to do it in a better way.12. How do you balance between work and life?This is a daily challenge. I separate private matters strictly from business.Furthermore, I do sports on a regular basis.13. What do you consider your biggest virtue? And your biggest vice?Virtue: being spontaneous in my decision making.Vice: being spontaneous in my decision making.14. Which personal goals would you still like to achieve?I have a few which I will share when I have achieved them.About Thomas RennebaumThomas Rennebaum is Marketing Director at Volkswagen Financial Services AG. He assumed the role in2009. Beforehand he was the Head of Customer Service and Sales Department at the Volkswagen Bankdirect. Currently, he is in charge of Product Development, Marketing, and joint Financial Services campaignswith Volkswagen, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle, Audi, Seat, and Skoda for the German market.Furthermore, he has an international responsibility for CRM.Before joining Volkswagen Financial Services, Rennebaum was in different management positions at theCommerzbank AG and CortalConsors. At the Commerzbank he worked as a Branch Manager in the retailbanking sector. In 2000 he joined Consors AG where he was responsible for the implementation of severalsales and CRM projects. As a Director for Sales and CRM for the major customer group he was in chargeof various sales teams and the Product Development department.Rennebaum studied Business Administration at the University of Erlangen-Nuernberg.Contact: thomas.rennebaum[at]vwfs.com