How did you come to be with Henkel?
I arrived as a direct outsider, without having trained with Henkel, and I now work as a Junior Category Manager for detergents and cleaning materials. It was actually in my last job with another firm that I detected the Henkel spirit. At the time I had some contact with Henkel’s field force people and thought that I might be in good hands with Henkel. That was back in 1991, and I have to say – looking back – that I was absolutely right at the time.

What positions have you had?
Over the years I have been able to profit from Henkel’s training opportunities. My jobs en route to where I am now have been as diverse as the work itself:  commercial education in retailing, training as a marketing specialist, section leader in a self-service department store, sales force work, and office-based sales administration.

What stands out about Henkel as an employer?
What I particularly value is that the superior concerned appreciates work at every level. That comes out not only in the Henkel spirit that I’ve already mentioned, but in the vigorous support that one is given in one’s personal development. Certificates and seminars are really vital for non-graduates.  Henkel offers both.

What attracts you about your work?
I have always been into analysing things and working with figures, but that should not be taken to mean that I am unwilling to work closely with people. That is especially the case when it comes to presentations. I have already fulfilled quite a number of different functions at Henkel, which is unsurprising given the very wide range of products. The net result is that there are so many opportunities to link things together, and the more experienced one is the more one still learns on top of it all.