Stefan Bartling

My job

Being in charge of Chr. Hansen’s key accounts within the dairy industry, my job involves a lot a travelling, close to 80 days every year. It also requires cooperation and coordination with colleagues all over the world in a cross-functional network involving local sales representatives, supply chain and quality experts. On a typical day I usually start out having early morning conversations with our Asia Pacific customers and colleagues just to end up in the evening talking to the United States and Latin America. There is no routine in my job. Although we are a group of key account managers, our jobs are very different.

My responsibilities

My main responsibility is to support Chr. Hansen’s customers’ in implementing their strategy and overcome the challenges in building up new markets. Being a Key Account Manager also implies that we proactively help customers carry out projects with the aim of renewing and refining their product range. We do this by supplying dairy ingredients produced at the market’s highest quality standards and in accordance with customers’ needs and specifications.  

We learn from listening to the market and following our customers’ development. This ability is absolutely essential for the future success of our business.

My motivation

What really motivates me is the facilitating aspect of my job - internally with colleagues and externally with customers. Communicating with people from all kinds of different cultures and organizations, I find it very challenging to facilitate cooperation between different interests and make things go smoothly.    

Investment in employee development has top priority at Chr. Hansen, and our company culture is characterized by a can-do attitude and a high degree of openness. If you have an idea or a wish for professional or personal development, then you go for it. The Chr. Hansen Academy which is primarily run by internal faculty is a fine example.

Moreover, we actively listen to the external world, e.g. peer groups in key account management.