The group has expanded its management team, welcoming on board two experts from the financial and software industries. In this way, in the wake of the merger with finstreet, the champion in the field of digital transformation in the financial services industry, another major foundation stone has been laid to achieve the accelerated growth strategy and the onward strategic development of its platform. Since Jan. 1, the group’s management team has been expanded from three to five members, and now features Christian Hegeler as Chief Commercial Officer and Andreas Kolbe as Chief Financial Officer.

Benjamin Hermanns, CEO and founder of the fintus group, comments in this context: “We are delighted that we have persuaded Christian and Andreas to join us at fintus group. They will make an invaluable contribution to our management team and with them on board we are optimally positioned to pursue the group’s ongoing growth track.”

Christian Hegeler, who can look back on over 15 years in the banking and financial services sector, is joining the group management team as its new Chief Commercial Officer. After a whole raft of digital transformation projects in cooperation with international banks successfully concluded as a member of one of the Big4 auditing corporations, he developed a profound understanding of the digital challenge banks and financial service providers face. With his in-depth experience as the former Head of Sales & Business Development of one of Germany’s leading open banking players, as our CCO he is now in charge of the ongoing strategic development of Group Sales and Marketing. “It’s great to be part of such a successful corporation. In my new role, I am really looking forward to helping shape the fintus group’s future and assuming responsibility for boosting sales and augmenting processes. We will be growing our brand and presence in the national and international markets and further driving the group’s success,” is how Christian grasps his new role as CCO.

Andreas Kolbe, who has over 20 years as a financial expert in the software sector under his belt, is all ready to tackle the new challenge, and will be acting as the group management team’s new Chief Financial Officer. On the back of various successful positions as CFO in international companies, Andreas has not only gained extensive experience in upscaling software corporations, but was also involved in fundamental success stories, such as setting up international financial organizations and successful exits through strategic investors. The cooperation with leading private equity houses is another great asset for the group. In his function as CFO, Andreas will be in charge of Group Financing and Controlling. Andreas sees his new position as follows: “I’m gratified to be able to support the group and the team at this exciting point in its growth phase and with the pending challenges – and to put the Finances section on an even more successful footing. Together with Patrick as Head of M&As I will be pressing the pedal on achieving external growth.”

Andreas will succeed Patrick Schüler, who after successfully leading the Finance section as CFO and Head of M&As now wishes to focus exclusively on strengthening the group’s M&A business. In the past Patrick already closed successful transactions on fintus’ behalf, such as the transaction with finstreet GmbH. As Head of M&As, Patrick will in future devote his energies completely to identifying and realizing M&A opportunities in order to further buttress the group’s position in the market.

The year 2023 will be full of challenges and opportunities. The ongoing market volatility, dynamic corporate valuations, and the constant challenge when it comes to tapping new sources of financing seen in 2022 are likely to persist. Market participants will have to choose from among two options: To go on doing battle on their own, or to grow faster as part of the financially strong fintus corporate group with its pronounced growth focus.