Marten Julius

After playing a pivotal role in selling the Infiana Group in a secondary buy out and after supporting the post merger project into the organization of another portfolio company, I took on a new position at KAP AG as CFO. KAP AG is a mid-sized industrial group with approximately 3,000 employees.

In 2014, Huhtamaki Group decided to divest its business division Films Global. I played a key role in managing the leveraged buyout transaction. A new private-equity-sponsored independent company was founded, and we named it “Infiana.” As its CFO, my responsibilities comprise Finance, Controlling, IT, Purchasing, and Business Excellence. Playing a pivotal role in the global management team for all financial issues, I am providing vital contributions to all major business decisions.

My responsibilities included Finance, Controlling, HR, IT, Purchasing, and Business Excellence. As the global business structures needed to be aligned, the finance processes were restructured and synchronized to improve internal control, quality, and transparency. Establishing a global purchasing department was key to select profitable projects. A new “greenfield” production site was established in Thailand, following our growth strategy in Asia for hygiene products. We also acquired a company in Brazil.

** Chief Financial Officer, (2008–2009) ** Head of Finance, Controlling & Human Resources, (2005–2007) ** As a Member of the Executive Team of SMC Pneumatik GmbH—a subsidiary company of the world market leader in pneumatics with 700 employees in Germany—I took on responsibility for Finance, Controlling, IT, Purchasing, Human Resources, Facility Management, and Quality Management with >30 employees.

After the Melitta Group had decided to split the Controlling Department, the Operations Controlling Department was created and provided in-house consultancy for large-scale projects, including product launches, M&A activities, business process optimization, and economic assessments. I led a team of 11 employees with European-wide responsibility of controlling and enhancing all operational processes and the supply chain management in Germany, France, Poland, and Spain.

I took on a new management role responsible for the finance and controlling activities of the German production plant. I served as an important interface to ensure a smooth management of all processes, manage and mediate conflicts, and identify and address collaborative working issues. A great challenge had been to maintain the operational and financial functionality of the accounting and controlling duties after the simultaneous withdrawal of team members without prior transfer of the work contingent.

Two years later, I was promoted to lead the controlling department of the “coffee enjoyment” business segment with production plants in France and Germany, developing and optimizing cost and production controlling. Throughout the optimization process all shift models were reviewed, analyzed, and monitored; in addition, the influence of the production costs was considered to regulate the output and achieve set objectives. I played a key role in the ERM-migration (SAP).

I was selected to administrate the accounting operations of the strategic business segment “Coffee Enjoyment,” maintaining accounting records, evaluating financial reports, and ensuring that reported results complied with accounting principles, policies, and procedures and international financial reporting standards.

After having graduated from university, I started a trainee program at Melitta with core areas in finance, controlling, accounting, production planning, and sales. The training included a 3-month internship at its European subsidiary in Paris, France. Nevertheless, after 1 year the company had a strong internal demand to cover a position as Controller.

During the years 1989 to 1995, I was a professional handball player in the first and second division of the German Handball League. I played for TV Großwallstadt, TuS Griesheim, and GW Dankersen/Minden. For TuS Griesheim I had also been the youth coach.

As a natural talent in mathematics and physics, I decided to start the undergraduate program. However, I soon realized that there are other interesting fields where I could apply my passion and skills. This was when industrial engineering grabbed my attention, adding value to meaningful work.