Quick facts
Name: Christoph Wachtel
Age: 34
Family: A son named Oskar
Nationality: German
Education: B.A. in International Business Administration, apprentice in international wholesales trading in commodities and chemical products at the former Metallgesellschaft.
Background: Community service instead of military service, temp jobs, studies in Wiesbaden, Germany, and at University of Westminster in London, internship at Shell Aviation London, internal sales representative at Dell computer.
Christoph Wachtel
Head of Sales and Marketing at ABC der deutschen Wirtschaft GmbH, Germany
Christoph likes work environments where ideas become innovations and where good performance is awarded.
When and why did you join the Group?
I started 1 July 2003 as Executive Assistant to the Managing Director of Hoppenstedt Holding. Previously, I had only been working for huge companies and was looking for a smaller company where I could work in a more entrepreneurial fashion. It’s not so common to be able to do that in bigger organisations. At first, I didn’t even know Hoppenstedt was part of a Swedish group, but it’s very decentralised and you act locally so I was quite happy with that.
Describe your entire career path and the choices you have made.
I was promoted to head the strategic product development at Hoppenstedt Holding. Among other things, I worked with the launch of Hoppenstedt CreditCheck. After this, I was offered the chance to lead the recently acquired ABC operations in Germany.
What is important to you at work?
Working with positive, motivated, creative people. I like work environments where ideas become innovations and where good performance is awarded. The bottom line is that we have to change our business methods; with the Internet a lot of changes have been introduced and I like combining long-term tradition with current and future requirements.
When I started my present job, I was told that the company needed new ideas and fresh ways of doing things. We have a good brand and a good market position, but the business traditions have to be upgraded to 2008 standards. This is what I like, renewal and change. Today’s business environment requires faster change. This is motivating to me; bringing in new ideas and doing things better.
Why have you chosen to stay in the Group?
I’ve stayed, mainly because I was offered the kind of jobs that requires constant change, upgrades and improvements. Nothing is ever finished, there’s a lot of work that needs to be done. I really believe in ABC as a German and European brand, and I like the challenge it presents.
How would you describe the “Bisnode culture” in a few words?
After working for various international companies, Bisnode stands out as not very hierarchical but decentralised. You can work as an entrepreneur, and that is what I think Bisnode stands for.