PwC Germany: Petra Raspels becomes the new Chief People Officer
Petra Raspels has been Chief People Officer (CPO) and member of the management team at Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) Germany since July. She shared this on Linkedin. She succeeds Daniela Geretshuber, who has held this position since 2022.
Raspels has worked at PwC since 1997. From 2008 to 2023, she was responsible for human resources as Head of People & Organization and was also active in various management positions, including in the areas of tax and legal, workforce at Germany and EMEA level, as well as consulting enablement and transformation. In her new role, Raspels says she wants to place a particular focus on the company’s digital transformation through artificial intelligence.
Zühlke: Christina Hübschen becomes Group Chief People Officer
Christina Hübschen took on the role of Group Chief People Officer at Zühlke, an innovation and transformation service provider, on July 1st. In this role, she is responsible for the People & Culture area worldwide, reports directly to CEO Gregor Bieler and is a member of the Group Leadership Team. Hübschen brings more than 20 years of experience in HR leadership positions in the technology and financial services industries, according to the company. She worked, among other things, at the fund platform Universal-Investment, where she was responsible for human resources strategy and corporate culture, and at the software developer Thinkproject. She succeeds Hannah Hall-Turner.
Opel: Ralph Wangemann will remain head of human resources until 2030
The supervisory board of Opel Automobile has extended Ralph Wangemann’s contract as managing director for human resources and labor director for a further three years. Wangemann has been working in this position since 2019 and has also been head of human resources at the parent company Stellantis in Germany since 2021.
He began his career at Opel in 1998 as a human resources officer. “Ralph Wangemann stands for reliability, dialogue and future orientation,” said Supervisory Board Chairman Xavier Chéreau.
VW Group Services: Angelika Spallek becomes the new labor director
Angelika Spallek will start a new professional chapter on August 1st: She will become labor director and managing director of Volkswagen Group Services, a subsidiary of Volkswagen that offers technical, logistical, commercial and IT-based services. Spallek succeeds Dr. Alexandra Baum-Ceisig, who is leaving the company as part of a retirement agreement. Together with Hartmut Rickel and Dr. Hagen Repke, the graduate economist, will be responsible for the strategic development of the VW subsidiary.
Spallek has many years of experience in the Volkswagen Group, including as HR manager for the commercial areas as well as sales, procurement, integrity and governance. She also worked as a senior consultant at Volkswagen Group Consulting. “Angelika Spallek has demonstrated her competence several times, particularly in complex change processes,” said Supervisory Board Chairman Arne Meiswinkel.
Axel Springer: Clara von Hugo becomes Global CHRO
Clara von Hugo has been working as Global Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at Axel Springer since July 1st. She announced this personally on Linkedin; an official press release or statement from the company has not yet been released. In her new role, von Hugo will be responsible for leading the media group’s global HR agenda. “It is one of the most exciting times to be part of Axel Springer, which has just celebrated its 80th anniversary. I am very much looking forward to shaping the next chapter together with my colleagues from all business areas and regions,” said the new CHRO.
Von Hugo brings many years of internal company experience: Since 2015, she has worked in the HR department for managers at the European media group Axel Springer. Before joining the media group, she worked, among other things, as Senior Talent Manager and Senior HR Business Partner at ProSiebenSat.1 Media, as Head of Recruiting at the online voucher and discount platform Groupon and as Key Account Manager at Hays.
Viebrockhaus: Kerstin Gerß becomes the first woman on the board
Since July 1st, Kerstin Gerß has been the human resources director of the German housing provider Viebrockhaus. This makes her the first woman on the board in the history of the over 70-year-old family business, as Viebrockhaus announced. She succeeds Wolfgang Werner, who is reaching retirement age after 30 years with the company, including as managing director and board member.
Kerstin Gerß is a trained tax specialist who specialized in the area of human resources during her professional career and now combines both areas in her work. “My aim is to prepare teams and companies for the future – through human resources work that brings together operational strength and strategic development,” says the HR director, describing her leadership approach.
Nobix Group expands management team with Sandra Prusakow as new CPO
The German IT service provider Nobix Group has expanded its management level to include three managers since the beginning of June: Cornelia Kühling, Sandra Prusakow and Kimberly Stocker have joined the management team. Sandra Prusakow takes over the position of CPO. Before moving to Nobix Group, she worked as Director People & Culture at the IT security service SITS Group, where, among other things, she was responsible for setting up a modern HR organization.
“With Cornelia Kühling, Sandra Prusakow and Kimberly Stocker, we have expanded our management team to include three strong and experienced personalities,” says Andreas Török, CEO of the Nobix Group. Prusakov herself said of her new position: “My goal is to further develop the people function so that it makes a noticeable contribution to the company’s success.”
Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM): Elena Pantazidou is the new CPO
In June, Elena Pantazidou took over the position of CPO at Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM), which is part of the Hamburg shipping group Schulte Group. Pantazidou has been working for the company since 2010 and has more than 15 years of internal experience. In her new role, she is responsible for human resources, sustainability and communication. She succeeds Bjoern Sprotte, who has been CPO since 2024 and has now left the company at his own request, as BSM announced.
Marianne Gras ist Chief People Officer bei Siempelkamp
Marianne Gras has been CPO at Siempelkamp, based in Krefeld, since July 1st. At the same time, she was appointed to the board of the Siempelkamp Group. The group is a technology supplier for mechanical and plant engineering, casting technology and nuclear technology. Gras has been with the company since September 2023 and led the group’s human resources development and support. The studied work and organizational psychologist will be responsible for the company’s global human resources strategy in the future. “My goal is to position HR as a global value driver – as a partner to the company, as a driver of transformation and as a guardian of a strong corporate culture,” says Gras.
Mara Marx is a volunteer at Human Resources.
