GFK INNOVATION
AWARD JURY
Looking forward to your creative ideas, unique, and environmentally friendly innovations:
Christina Paap
After graduating from secondary school in 1999, Christina Paap began her professional career by training as a medical assistant. Her subsequent work in a medical practice focused on billing and the organization of practice procedures. As a sideline, Ms. Paap acquired various specialist certificates and diplomas in the fields of fitness, therapy and health. From 2009 to April 2019, she changed industries and took over the studio management of a fitness studio chain with a focus on organization and personnel management. For personal reasons, she emigrated to Spain in 2019 and started working for an international property insurance broker. The combination of perfect language skills, organizational talent and passion for work as well as initial insurance experience ultimately led her to GfK in Spain. Since July 2024, she has been acting as Creative & Art Director, Managing Director Spain and Head of Innovation, Start Up & Investment for the entire group of companies.
Her credo: “If you dare to do something, your courage grows, if you hesitate, your fear grows”
Michael Raleigh – He brought the credit insurance to Ireland
Experience in working in industry for both private and public companies as financial controller, credit controller and credit insurance policy holder. Pioneer of domestic credit insurance in Ireland. Credited with bringing all the commercial credit insurers into Ireland. Worked closely with the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association before the „Celtic Tiger“ in the early 1990s advising many how to expand their business using credit insurance both in Ireland and export. Signed one company turning €2m per annum in early 1990s. They now turnover €120m in 50 countries. Have built the biggest independent credit brokerages in Ireland 3 times, the last time form y own.
His Credo: „Start now, you never know whats happens tomorrow.“
Alexandra Krautscheid
The business administration graduate took over the well-established medium-sized family business in the packaging trade 14 years ago. Over the course of this time, the company has been realigned for the future, all processes have been optimized and the company has been sustainably digitalized.
In order to be able to focus more on her passion, psychology, she has dedicated the past two years to her own succession process, which resulted in the successful handover of the company to an external shareholder in 2024.
Since then, Alexandra has focused on advising the former family business and strives to support others with her expertise in entrepreneurship, change management and succession processes.
Her credo: “Curiosity is the beginning of knowledge. Action is the beginning of change.”
Hubert Berger, GGF of Berger Vorsorge GmbH founded 01.11.1992 as a sole proprietorship from 2007 as a GmbH
Hubert Berger dedicated himself to the topic of occupational pension provision 30 years ago. At that time, he was already aware of the necessity due to demographic developments. This resulted in an absolute turnaround for companies to present themselves to the outside world as an attractive employer and to live up to this.
Over the years, this has resulted in a comprehensive view of companies. The logical consequence was the founding of Handwerk Media. Recruiting and image films have become a key role in the external image of many companies.
Hubert has a long association and a deep bond with GfK. He was also delighted to be a member of the jury for the GfK Innovation Award.
His credo: “Stand out from the crowd in a pleasantly different way.”
Benny Schmidt – The innovative mind
After founding his company Be.A.Star-Productions GmbH in his early 20‘s, Benny was the rising star in the german video production business. He invented a fast-delivery-system for high level Wedding Films and immediatly adapted it to Business Films, which led to a massive growth of his company. He empowers young creatives and offers a Special Trainee progamme for Film and Media Students. Today Be.A.Star-Productions GmbH produces not only every kind of video content as Imagefilms, Musicvideos, Productfilms and Livestreams for Brands and Companies, Benny is also the producer of the most important Award Show in the german wedding industry.
His Credo: „Dream it – do it – develop it to the next level.“
Paul Häpp
With a background in logistics, Paul Häpp began his professional career. Early on, he recognized that his passion lay in bringing a company’s services to the market. Therefore, it was natural for him to see his further professional future in sales. Out of four decades of sales experience, the most influential 30 years were spent in the banking and leasing industry. In various managerial roles, including the position of CEO of a bank and leasing company, he not only oversaw sales goals but also significantly shaped the strategic directions of these companies, particularly concerning new market fields. Paul Häpp is currently the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of a publicly traded company.
His Credo: „Only dead fish swim with the current.“
We’re looking forward to powerful ideas and creative applications for 2024
Application deadline is the 31.05.2024
to christina.paap@gfkmbh.com