 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ulrich Dietz, Chief Executive Officer of GFT, talks about the new economy, the move into their new building in Stuttgart and the future of his company.
|
|
As a quoted firm on the then new technology stock market GFT, a company providing IT-services, came up smiling after the dotcom crash. Why? Because GFT acted carefully with the money it made by going public, says founder and CEO Ulrich Dietz. „We were careful and learned a lot from the crash; it was an experience I wouldn't want to have missed."
GFT is listed in the GEX-index as a company operated by the founder, 50 percent of the shares are in the hands of family and friends. „Our goal has always been to build our business strategically on a long-term basis", says Dietz. „Like many family businesses, we carefully guard our values, and behave in a socially responsible manner.“
The coordination of the company’s worldwide development will be centralised in Stuttgart, which Mr. Dietz describes as being a pro-business city. Mr Dietz appreciates the certainty of law in Germany. „Compared to other countries, companies can be secure with the German situation!“
Interview with Marika Lulay
According to Marika Lulay, Chief Operating Officer of GFT, “big enough to deliver, small enough to care“ is the principle that enables the medium-sized company to compete with much larger enterprises in the world market. „We don’t aim to cover all industries“, Mrs. Lulay states. „But we do focus on clients in the postal business and the banking industry.“ The company has recently added the Insurance industry to its target markets.
As a result of the recent deregulation of the industry Mrs. Lulay expects the biggest opportunities to come in the postal business in Germany and Eastern Europe but is also experiencing strong demand from the retail banks in Latin America and investment banks in London, New York, Frankfurt and Singapore. In Hungary GFT sold its local subsidiary.
„In Eastern Europe you have to be in each country or in none“, Mrs. Lulay says, ”therefore GFT works with local partners. „We follow our clients“, says Mrs. Lulay, quoting another GFT principle. „And we therefore organise IT projects, wherever our clients want them, whether we have a local subsidiary or not. We want our work to reflect that we are an international, not a multinational company.“
|
|
 |
Interview with Jochen Ruetz
This year GFT plans to hire 150 new employees. “We are looking for software engineers, who come directly from university or who have a few years IT project experience”, says Jochen Ruetz, GFT’s Chief Financial Officer. Alongside his CFO responsibilities, Mr. Ruetz is also responsible for GFT’s employees and the freelancers the company sources for its clients.
He comments “Our people must be willing to work within international teams and to be innovative and reliable”. Jochen Ruetz outlines the soft-skills of the candidates; “as we are a medium-sized company, we have a flat hierarchy and very efficient internal communication. Our clients are leading companies from all over the world. We therefore offer good opportunities for career development”, he underlines the benefits for GFT employees.
In Germany works councils within IT companies are a big issue; Ruetz says: “These councils are justified, as for most IT companies their workforce is the only resource they have.” But he thinks, there are additional things an IT company has to offer. Mr. Ruetz sees a strong trend towards HR outsourcing and is convinced that this will drive GFT’s resourcing business in the future.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
kleiner text zwecks pdf zum download
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
