Erik Holtmann joined the company at 17 and completed two apprenticeships. He spent eight years as a key account manager before being appointed branch manager of the merged Frankfurt and Darmstadt branches in 2017. The new branch has almost 30 employees from the original branches and new hires. As branch manager, Erik focuses on running the business and creating a new company culture while also staying involved in technical work through SPIE's "One SPIE" policy of contracting work between units.

1. Erik Holtmann, 36, served two apprenticeships with SPIE Deutschland & Zentraleuropa,
SPIE Fleischhauer before spending eight years as a key account manager.
In 2017, he was appointed branch manager in Frankfurt.
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INTERVIEWS
WITHOURSO SPIEPEOPLE
“I joined the company at 17
and now I’m a branch manager!”
When did you join SPIE Deutschland & Zentraleuropa, SPIE Fleischhauer?
Erik Holtmann: In 1999, straight from school, I served two apprenticeships with the company
in Hanover, my home city. First I did a three-and-a-half-year technical apprenticeship as a
sound and video technician, and then – after a year of public social service – I did a commercial
apprenticeship. Then I worked for one of our key accounts, a major car manufacturer. I was
originally going to do this alongside the CEO of my subsidiary, but after a few months I dealt
with the client alone. I handled all their media technology needs for events, conferences,
meetings and so on for about eight years. I also found time to gain a qualification in Business
by attending evening classes.
What is your current position?
E.H.: I manage a new branch in Frankfurt that was created from two branches which were both
experiencing difficulties. I was very lucky because I wanted to move to the Rhine-Main region
for personal reasons. The old Frankfurt and Darmstadt branches were merged in January 2017
and I was asked to manage the new unit. There are almost thirty people: a third ex-Frankfurt,
a third ex-Darmstadt, and a third are new, including me.
What role do you play?
E.H.: I’m working in media technology. I have highly skilled project managers who deal with the
technical aspects, while I can focus on keeping the business running and try to create a new
company culture. But I also keep my hand in with technical work, because several SPIE units
are contracting specialised audio and video work with us – it’s the “One SPIE” policy in action!