I learned the aftermarket from the ground up.
It all started in 1990 — with my apprenticeship at Wilhelm Schwenker, long before digitalisation and parts databases became everyday tools. Over more than 35 years I've seen the industry from nearly every angle: as export manager and head of overall sales, as a member of the executive board and in international key account management — at the manufacturer, in wholesale, and at the counter, where it's ultimately decided which part gets fitted.
Those years taught me one thing: in the aftermarket, trust matters more than any catalogue. Through stops like Wilhelm Schwenker and Hans Hess Autoteile, up to my current role as Head of Sales Germany & International Key Account at Schäferbarthold, I've come to know both sides — and learned that whoever understands the logic of the industry and the reality of the trade can translate, mediate and make deals happen that otherwise wouldn't.
I'm especially at home where quality matters: with premium spare parts for demanding vehicle segments. That exact mix of brand standards and honest value is my element.
That's my role today: I pass on what I've learned in over 35 years of sales. For everyone starting out in sales — with someone by their side who knows the rules of the game and is well connected within the Bundesverband der Vertriebsmanager (Federal Association of Sales Managers).
What hasn't changed in over 35 years: I tell you honestly what works. What has changed: today I use AI to turn experience into data, and data into better decisions.