People November 2022

Ex-SAP CTO Björn Goerke at Neptune

Neptune Software is stocking up for market expertise by hiring former SAP Chief Technology Officer, Björn Goerke, on board. Before taking up his post at Neptune, Björn Goerke headed the SAP Cloud department. In his new role, he advises Neptune Software on its expansion plans. Björn Goerke is expected to support Neptune with his expertise. According to his new employer, Goerke is used to breaking new ground in software and digital transformation. This is evident in his work at SAP. There, he began his journey in 1988 all the way to the position of chief technology officer. This experience will be particularly useful for Neptune as the company looks to grow its business on a global scale.

Björn Goerke has accompanied many companies and taken on many different tasks. His professional achievements include co-developing enterprise software, working on the SAP Cloud Platform and web offerings. In addition, he was also employed at VW for a time. Björn Goerke describes his motivation as follows: "Whether it's automated self-service software, web and mobile interfaces, or improved user and employee experience - even with completely new enterprise concepts, one thing should always be the focus, namely digitization and a reliable user experience. At the same time, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find experts on the market who have the necessary skills to implement these aspects."

Björn Goerke is to support Neptune Software with his know-how. In his new role, he also advises on expansion plans.

Thilo Kerner moves from SAP to SAP Partner

After more than 20 years at SAP Germany, the Thilo Kerner will in future head the management team at SAP partner Sybit. In his role as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), the 50-year-old CX expert will take charge of sales and marketing. With his experience in the Customer Experience business unit and his knowledge of the SAP world, he intends to take market development and customer support to a new level at Sybit. As Head of Markets, Thilo Kerner is responsible for the entire customer business of the nearly 300-strong digital agency. Thilo Kerner has been active in the SAP CX business since 2000. With a degree in industrial engineering, he has held numerous positions at SAP Germany, including Project Manager, Solution Principal, Business Development Director, Head of Operations and Demand Management, Sales Manager Germany and Sales Lead Partner Ecosystem MEE.

"Now a new chapter begins for me, which I am particularly looking forward to. Sybit is the leading SAP partner for Customer Experience in the entire DACH region and, as part of NTT Data Business Solutions, is also among the top in the SAP business worldwide. Helping to shape the digitization of entire sectors and industries here in one of the most important digital topics of the future is a challenge and enormous incentive for me. We have a lot planned for our customers in the next few years. So you can be excited!" said Thilo Kerner about his new role as CRO at Sybit.

As Head of Markets, Thilo Kerner is responsible for the customer business of the nearly 300-strong digital agency Sybit.

Bosch manager becomes member of the board at VDE

Dr. Martin Hieber took over the newly created position of Chief Technology Officer of the VDE on October 1. On the Executive Board, he will be responsible for technology and networks alongside VDE CEO Ansgar Hinz and Chief Financial Officer Beate Mand. Martin Hieber most recently worked for Robert Bosch, where he was responsible for global product and technology planning, investment planning and innovation management. Prior to that, the mechanical engineering graduate spent more than twelve years working in applied research at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. With his technical expertise, Martin Hieber would like to support VDE in expanding its market and customer structure on a national and international level, but also on a technical level, and to work towards a successful future.

"We can only do that with top-trained young people, with excellent talent, in an interplay of different domains of software, hardware and mechatronics. And that's where we'll need the best minds in the future in a tough international competition," says Martin Hieber.

Dr. Martin Hieber will also contribute his experience as head of the members' area. The networks in the VDE are particularly close to his heart. 

New Head of Enterprise Networking at Cisco

Sven Barten is the new Head of Enterprise Networking at Cisco Germany. He reports to Kay Wintrich, Director Specialist Sales. The long-time Cisco employee succeeds Falko Binder, who is moving to the EMEA Enterprise Networking team to take on the role of Strategy and Transformation Office Lead. Sven Barten has held various leadership positions in Enterprise Sales and in the AppD Specialists team. Sven Barten will now be responsible for specialist sales for the market-leading enterprise networking portfolio. It is a central component of Cisco's Catalyst architecture, which is the basis for building and operating modern IT infrastructure. One focus for Sven Barten will be to make the various network operation options (on-prem, hybrid or cloud) even more accessible to Cisco's customers and to present the respective benefits.

"I am enormously looking forward to this new task. We are at a very special moment in digitization. The requirements of our customers in terms of agility, security and user experience are suddenly becoming greater. The focus is always on a network that enables maximum agility, automation and IT security."

Sven Barten, Head of Enterprise Networking at Cisco Germany

Re-elections to the DSAG Executive Board 

At the general meeting held during the DSAG annual congress in Leipzig, Jens Jarick was again elected treasurer of the association's board of directors. He is the full-time Head of IT Finance, Commercial and Logistic Services at Infraserv. Christine Grimm was also re-elected to the position of Chief Transformation Officer. At Freudenberg, Christine Grimm is responsible for Process and Digital Technology Management.

Karin Gräslund was also confirmed for a second term of office as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer. She is a full-time professor of business and financial informatics at the Wiesbaden Business School of the RheinMain University of Applied Sciences. Finally, Walter Schinnerer, Head of the SAP Competence Center of the IT Services of the Austrian social security funds, was confirmed as Specialist Board Member for Austria, and Jean-Claude-Flury, CIO at the Swiss company V-Zug, was confirmed as Specialist Board Member for Switzerland.

The following persons were appointed as Executive Vice President Licenses, Service and Support Thomas Henzler elected by the General Meeting for a further two years. Thomas Henzler is the full-time CIO at the machine manufacturer Piller Blowers.

Workday has announced the appointment of Angelique de Vries as President for EMEA. In her role, she is responsible for the company's EMEA business and regional growth strategy. Angelique de Vries draws on extensive experience in the software industry. 

Since October, EPAL Germany, the National Committee of the European Pallet Association, has strengthened its team with Jens Lübbersmeyer. As an active interface, Lübbersmeyer will record the needs in dialog with members and users in order to further expand the largest open load carrier exchange pool.

Axelle Mazé took over the position of Chief Financial Officer at Cenit in mid-October. The French Axelle Mazé has been working for the Cenit Group for eight years in the position of CFO of the French subsidiary Keonys in Paris. The previous CFO, Markus Wesel, is turning to a new challenge.

Andrea Spiegelhoff and Andreas Fahr have taken over the management of ISG in the DACH region. While Spiegelhoff is primarily responsible for business operations such as human resources, Fahr is responsible for the company's business development in the market.

With effect from October 1 Martin Hennings new Chief Customer Officer (CCO) of SERgroup and member of the Executive Leadership Team. SER is a provider of Intelligent Content Automation. With Martin Hennings, SER has gained an expert for the position of Chief Customer Officer.

Michael vom Sondern is the new managing director at onQuality and is now responsible for marketing and business development. The Hamburg-based company supports its customers in gaining rapid access to marketplaces in e-business.