Dr. Stephan Hecking

All companies, start-ups or consolidated, small or big, need an experienced CFO to make the business as profitable as possible, but start-ups and SME / PYMEs do not need (and frequently can't afford) a full-time Financial Director. Since 2015 my mission is to be their CFO just the time they need me.

I lead the Financial Managers of the 8 country companies belonging to the region with responsibility for Finance, Controlling, Credit Management, Purchasing, IT/IS, and Risk Management.

I'm in charge of the leadership of the management board and have the functional responsibility for Finance, Controlling, Purchasing, and IT/IS leading the department managers.

I organized the start-up looking for partners and shareholders, negotiated a joint venture contract, founded the company, obtained funds, agreed a contract with the supplier Otto Nussbaum GmbH & Co. KG, built up a sales and after sales network in Spain, led a team of employees and freelancers, and brought highly innovative automatic parking systems onto the market.

Together with the COO I was in charge of the management of the company, a leading tier 1 supplier in the automotive sector. We took over the management from a long-standing General Director who retired and managed the generational succession. My direct responsibilities were HR, especially negotiations with labor representatives, Controlling (plant, investments, costs), Finance, and Purchasing.

I integrated myself rapidly in a new culture and assumed the responsibility for the Accounting / Purchasing / IT department. I professionalized the department and created the positions of a HR manager and a Controller. In 2000 I exercised in parallel as General Interim Manager of Rexroth Mexico and restructured the company. After the merger of Rexroth with the automation business of BOSCH I led the post merger integration and participated actively in the acquisition of a family business.

During the first year I was responsible for the financial controlling of the group's affiliates in GB, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain. Then I was entrusted with the management of the project to develop and implement a FX negotiation and administration system for the MANNESMANN Group.

I graduated as Qualified Bank Officer (Bankkaufmann) and worked afterwards as account manager / customer advisor before the obligatory military service.