Florian Becker is the new Managing Director at Krieg

In his youth, he actually wanted to become a professional footballer. But then Florian Becker's career (born in 1979) took him in a slightly different direction: after starting out in business studies, he worked for one of the largest wholesalers of automotive parts for 16 years and then built up consulting for an IT company. He has now been involved with workplace specialist Krieg for five years, first taking over the Purchasing and Product Management departments, then adding Marketing and E-Commerce. He has been a member of the management team since January 2020 - and has been in close contact with the owner and Managing Director Andreas Krieg on strategic and product-related topics ever since.

"In me, Andreas Krieg has found someone he has worked with for many years and someone he trusts. He knows that I will continue to develop the business in the interests of the family," says Florian Becker, explaining the generational change. Andreas Krieg (born in 1959) will continue to be available to the company and the new Managing Director Becker as an owner and partner, but will withdraw from the operational business.

In the long history of the family business, which was founded in 1956, Becker has a clear vision: "We are a manufacturer - that is our unique selling point. That's why I'm focusing even more on our manufacturing expertise in the future - in combination with our merchandise and mail order structures."

New merchandise management system

The new Managing Director is well aware that the company is at a point of far-reaching change, particularly in terms of digitalization and automation of processes: "That's why we're introducing a new merchandise management system in 2023. And we are facing up to the challenges of our time." Since coronavirus, these include various procurement markets and the shortage of raw materials, currently the rise in energy prices, but also finding, retaining and managing employees. "We are a reliable company, we have a strong position in the market - this has an impact on our image as an attractive employer."

Becker wants to take the range of workstation systems to a new level, focus on smart workstations, expand the ESD area and also enhance quality management through optimized internal processes. "The issue of costs runs through all industries and affects all areas, there's no denying it," emphasizes Becker. "That's why we want to overcome the crisis together with our customers, suppliers and business partners. We can do this by communicating fairly, openly and transparently. And by trying to keep cost and price increases as low as possible." For all its economic efficiency, Krieg is not about passing things on to others - and that is also expected of its partners: "Exploiting profits during the crisis or expanding business on the backs of a few - that's not our style."

Appreciation, commitment and pragmatism

Determination, loyalty and straightforwardness. Becker is characterized by these strengths. And he also wants to demonstrate them in his new management role: He has just initiated a project on corporate culture, and the values of appreciation, commitment and pragmatism need to be practiced even more intensively. He considers the fact that the team has known him for many years to be a major advantage: "I am well connected within the company and the employees can rely on me to do everything I can to strengthen cooperation and team spirit. At the end of the day, it's all about carrying out our daily tasks profitably." He hopes that the workforce will join in, that there will be an open exchange at eye level and that the work as a whole will be fair and customer-oriented. "Our customers should realize that we are a good team at Krieg."