Kay Spanger brings closure to a stellar 41-year career with Gebr. Heinemann

GERMANY. Gebr. Heinemann today paid fulsome tribute to Chief Commercial Officer and Executive Board member Kay Spanger (62) who steps down at the end of this month after 41 years with the family-held company.

As documented in a special feature published by The Moodie Davitt Report today, Kay Spanger began his Heinemann career in 1979 as an apprentice.

As reported in July, his successor, Dr Dirk Schneider, took over the position of Chief Commercial Officer on 1 September 2020. Spanger will continue to support the company in an advisory capacity until the end of December before retiring.

Kay Spanger bids farewell after a stellar 41-year career with Gebr. Heinemann

Gunnar Heinemann: “Above all, Kay is a ‘Heinemann’ with all his heart”

Kay Spanger has dedicated over four decades, or almost 15,000 days, to Gebr. Heinemann with “heart and soul” and has helped shape the company and its position in the market, the company noted.

Over more than 20 years he has been responsible for the purchasing and logistics departments, and before that he had worked in almost all other areas of the company.

After his apprenticeship, for example, he initially worked in sales to ferry customers, providing ship suppliers and shipping companies with duty free products for the very successful so-called “booze cruises”.

He then moved on to the purchasing department for perfume and cosmetics and played a major role in establishing the then-nascent category. Around this time, Kay brought his brother Raoul into the family business (who is still responsible for sales at Gebr. Heinemann as Chief Operating Officer today.)

Claus Heinemann saluted Kay Spanger’s zest, passion and affinity with products

“Kay Spanger is a doer and achiever who has always pursued his profession with a lot of zest. For him his job is his passion. As a buyer at Gebr. Heinemann, you have to have a high affinity for our products – and Kay Spanger has always been enthusiastic about every single article in our range,” said Co-owner Claus Heinemann.

His cousin, co-owner Gunnar Heinemann, agreed. “Above all, he is a ‘Heinemann’ with all his heart. If there is one person who embodies our company value ‘We persevere’ in a special way, it is Kay Spanger. On behalf of the entire owner family and the executive board, we would like to thank him for a great cooperation based on trust and his outstanding contribution to our business.”

More time for family, friends, man’s best friends, and protecting the environment

“The support of the owners as well as my colleagues from the executive board and all Heinemann employees worldwide has enabled me to accompany this firm up to this point,” Kay Spanger said.

“What I really appreciate is the freedom that has always been given to me in every respect and the trust that has been placed in me. I would like to personally tell my brother Raoul how proud I am that we have worked together for such a long time for the benefit of the company.

“A special thank you also goes to our suppliers, who are representing the most beautiful brands in the world. The mutual trust and openness during our cooperation are the foundation of the success we have achieved together.”

Raoul Spanger has formed a formidable brotherly team with Kay for several decades at Gebr. Heinemann

After more than 40 years at Gebr. Heinemann and close cooperation with three generations of owners, Kay Spanger said that he is now entering a new phase which he looks forward to with great anticipation.

First of all, he is planning to spend much more time with his family, friends and dogs. He has also been involved for years in a husky farm in Norway, where he supports the training of the sled dogs, as well as in some environmental projects such as ‘Clean up Svalbard’. He plans to intensify both of these activities.

Kay Spanger also remains loyal to the perfume industry and will continue to serve on the supervisory boards of two perfume distributors in Germany and Scandinavia – Nobilis Group and Sæther.

Kay Spanger on the husky farm in Innset, Norway where he plans to spend more time training the sled dogs
Digital expertise: Dr Dirk Schneider will help drive the business forward in a transformed environment

Handover to Dr Dirk Schneider

Kay Spanger has already smoothly passed the baton to Dr Dirk Schneider, Gebr. Heinemann noted. “The fact that he was able to support his successor during the last four months of this difficult year has made the transition easier for both of them after such a decisive period. While one is now looking back on more than four decades of success, the other is ready to set new goals.”

“I am very pleased that in Dirk Schneider we have found someone who fits in so well with Gebr. Heinemann,” said Kay Spanger.

“His experience with data-driven and digitalised processes in purchasing and logistics will help the company to continue on the path it has already embarked on towards the future. Because now it is imperative to look ahead, to a time with and after the corona pandemic, to coming decades which will be characterised by digitalisation and challenges in climate protection.

“But one thing will always remain the same at Gebr. Heinemann – our partnership and respectful cooperation with our colleagues, partners and suppliers. Only together can we master the current difficult global economic situation and continue to shape the travel market successfully in the coming years.”

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