IBM Consultancy Leader to Take GfK Reins

GfK has named a successor for Professor Dr. Klaus L. Wübbenhorst, who announced his decision to step down as CEO earlier in the year. Matthias Hartmann, 45, is currently Global Head of Strategy and Industries in the consulting division of IBM Global Business Services.

Hartmann takes the role for an initial period of three years.

Prof. Wübbenhorst has spent twenty years on the global group's management board, the last thirteen of them as CEO. He announced his decision to step down in February, stating that 'for personal reasons', he would not be extending his employment contract when it expired at the end of July 2012. He will now resign from the post and leave the company not later than January 1, 2012, with hartmann immediately becoming CEO.

Hartmann began his career at IBM in 1988 and worked for most of his first six years in the banking and insurance divisions in Germany, Europe and the USA. From 1993 until 2002, he held various positions at the former IBM Unternehmensberatung GmbH, rising to MD by the year 2000. In 2002 he played a key role in the integration of 30,000 consultants from PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting with a similar number from IBM, after the former's acquisition. He served as VP at IBM's Group headquarters in Armonk, USA until 2005 when he became Managing Director in Germany, and was then appointed Global Head of Strategy and Industries in February 2010. The role gave him worldwide responsibility in the consulting division of IBM Global Business Services, which is the world's largest provider of corporate consultancy services.

Supervisory Board Chairman Dr. Arno Mahlert describes Hartmann as 'the ideal person to lead GfK into a global and digital future under its new corporate strategy' and adds: 'We are delighted to have found such a competent successor to Professor Dr. Klaus Wübbenhorst in Matthias Hartmann.'

The Management Board will comprise four members from the start of 2012. In addition to the CEO, these will be CFO, Pamela Knapp, who also oversees HR and 'Central Services'; Dr. Gerhard Hausruckinger who will assume responsibility for the Consumer Choices sector; and Debra A. Pruent, who takes responsibility for the Consumer Experiences sector.

Web site: www.gfk.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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