"In the marketplace, I repeatedly find that thyssenkrupp is a sought-after brand which has not lost its strength even in times of globalization," says Christian Hämmerle, Key Account Manager at thyssenkrupp Schulte GmbH.
After completing his training as a wholesale and export merchant at the company – a materials service provider for steel, stainless steel and nonferrous metals in Germany – in 2008 and subsequently working in internal sales, the 32-year-old was appointed Key Account Manager at the end of 2018.
At the Weingarten site on Lake Constance, one of forty in the thyssenkrupp Materials Services business area, Christian Hämmerle is responsible for strategically important key accounts within a radius of around 100 kilometers. The biggest sales are generated by the Stainless Steel Sheets division, a product that is primarily supplied to customers in the automotive and mechanical engineering industries but also used in many other sectors. As a Key Account Manager, Christian Hämmerle performs a wide range of duties in both internal and external sales. For example he visits customers once a week, calculates quotations, advises customers and monitors goods deliveries. Continuous market observation and visits to trade fairs are also part of his work. Christian Hämmerle thus holds a key position in the company: on the one hand he looks to win new customers, and on the other he works to retain existing customers for the long term, with the ultimate aim of increasing sales and generating profits. "When it comes to submitting an offer, price is important but not the only key factor," he explains. "Delivery performance and consistent quality are just as important." Tying up a tailor-made overall package for a customer appeals to his sporting instincts, because it often means having to compete and win against other market players.
As Key Account Manager, Christian Hämmerle’s work is very varied: "I really appreciate my job. I deal with many different people on a daily basis, I travel a lot and have to communicate a lot - things that I personally like and enjoy".