What’s special about your work field?
My present job as Director Global Key Account Management Purchasing for the Laundry and Home Care division has a global definition. It’s a very complex field to be in, especially as in purchasing we control over ten thousand different substances used in detergents and cleaning materials. Hundreds of internal and external contacts are stimulating, and – along with the daily challenges of the procurement markets – they make the job very diverse. What I also appreciate is that the purchasing organisation spans the globe and crosses over into various divisions. About 150 managers work in the success of the company, we know almost all of them personally, and we keep meeting up with them on various occasions.

How did you come to Henkel?
Good question - it was rather by chance. I graduated in mechanical engineering and business economics, and concentrated on doing internships in the automotive industry while I was studying. The job rotation scheme at eh Purchasing department in Henkel attracted me. Job rotation over a period of six years, including outside Germany, is the reason why I am here now.

And just what have been your jobs in the company up till now?
During the first two years I looked after methods and information systems on a global scale in Corporate Purchasing. As a result, I obtained a very good overall view of Henkel’s global business and I am stilling profiting from that today. From 1998 to 2000 I was in Purchasing for industrial packaging materials in the Chemical division, Ecolab and detergent and cleaning agents for German factories, and also responsible for selected European projects. From October 2000 to the end of 2001 I took a sabbatical and worked as scientific assistant at the University of Essen. I graduated in business information science with Prof. W. Brenner (at St. Gallen University) before returning to the company in Düsseldorf in 2002. Then I went straight off to Mexico, where I was responsible for Purchasing Detergents until 2004. Since them I’ve been back at company HQ, currently responsible for the packaging sector, and from the end of 2004 I’ve also also been responsible for worldwide raw materials for the detergents and cleaning materials sector.

What’s it like starting off in purchasing?
Our philosophy in purchasing is that there’s no specific trainee programme. A new employee gets on-the-job training from the word go as part of a job rotation scheme lasting several years. Each person therefore has an equal amount of self-responsibility. Of course, there is a network of contact persons that works very well. So new colleagues quickly learn the ropes, which is what’s wanted and encouraged.