Sebastian Baumann, Digital Product Lead ECE & Managing Director Stocksquare

Sebastian Baumann is responsible for the further development of the Omnichannel platform Digital Mall at ECE Projektmanagement GmbH & Co KG in the Digital Innovation & Analytics unit. Having graduated in business administration, he is very familiar with the latest innovation frameworks from Stanford University and has developed numerous digital services such as the Digital Mall for ECE’s shopping centers. In addition, as Managing Director of Stocksquare – a joint venture between OTTO and ECE – under the heading of Connected Commerce, he is further advancing the cross-linkage of stationary retail with online marketplaces, such as the otto.de shopping platform.

Dr. Manfred Gößl, Managing Director, Bayerischer Industrie- und Handelskammertag e.V. (Bavarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce)

Dr. Manfred Gößl has been Managing Director of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Munich and Upper Bavaria and the Bavarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BIHK) since January 1, 2019. Previously, he was Deputy Managing Director and head of the “Central Tasks and Basic Issues” department of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Munich and Upper Bavaria for several years.

Derek Morrison, Director Europe, StockX

A lifelong sneakerhead with an extensive background in luxury and economics, Derek joined StockX as its first international leader to help drive the marketplace’s expansion into Europe. He blends his passion for sneakers, urban culture, and luxury collectibles with a professional dedication to improving consumer outcomes in the marketplace. The world’s first „Stock Market of Things“, StockX is one of the fastes growing companies on the planet and is revolutionizing the way millions of buyers and sellers connect each day.

Dr. Thomas Middelhoff, Speaker

Dr. Thomas Middelhoff, called “Big T”, was THE top manager in Germany, first as head of the media giant Bertelsmann, later as CEO of the Karstadt parent company Arcandor. He lived a very luxurious life. And he experienced a widely publicized downfall of epic proportions: In 2014 he was sentenced to three years imprisonment for embezzlement and was led away while still in court. He lost his reputation, his assets and his health.
In return, however, he gained something of inestimable value: his work with disabled people in the Bodelschwingh Foundation Bethel in Bielefeld and the return to his dormant faith began to change him from within.
Reflective and unsparingly honest, Thomas Middelhoff reports on how the bitter experience of failure became his greatest opportunity to let go of pride, greed and hunger for power and find inner peace. His ambition today: to prevent others, especially young people, from repeating his mistakes and to show others who have failed a way to new hope.

Nina Schwichtenberg, Blogger, Content Creator & Founder, BANÚ

Nina Schwichtenberg is an experienced fashion editor and has worked for various print and online editorial departments such as Joy Magazine, Stylight and ProSieben. For seven years now, the 28-year-old has been the face behind the German fashion and lifestyle blog Fashiioncarpet, which she runs together with her boyfriend and business partner Patrick Kahlo. Together they create new blog content daily as well as 360-degree content on fashion, beauty, travel and interior design. Fashiioncarpet stands for a select premium and high-end customer portfolio with brands like Cartier, Dior, Chanel, Chloé, Michael Kors and Emporio Armani. Nina also attaches great importance in all of the blog’s content to the mix of professional editorial content and a strong personal touch.
Since July 2019, Nina initiated her own fashion label, BANÚ, which stands for wearable and feminine fashion with that certain something. BANÚ stands for an exciting and personal combination of remarkable and individual styling, special details and the hottest pieces that are nevertheless suitable for everyday wearing. The brand BANÚ is 100% Nina.

Werner Huber, Director Software Engineering, Sixt Labs

Werner has more than 15 years of experience in software engineering. Currently he is responsible for all frontend engineering efforts at Sixt including the Sixt App and Websites.

Philipp Depiereux, Founder & CEO, etventure GmbH

“Changingthegame”- Under this guiding principle, Philipp Depiereux, as Founder and CEO of the digital consultancy and start-up company etventure, is advancing the digital revolution in business, industry and society with new ways of thinking and novel methods. Together with two partners he founded etventure in 2010 with the concept of bundling the experiences gathered from innovation projects in medium-sized businesses, the corporate world and start-ups in one company. The recipe for success in the development of new digital ideas: fast, radically user-centered, and with an entrepreneurial mindset in the implementation. To this end, etventure makes use of innovation methods such as lean startup and design thinking. The customer roster includes, among others, BARMER, Daimler Financial Services, Franz Haniel & Cie., Schwan-STABILO and the steel distributor Klöckner. Since October 2017, etventure has been part of the auditing and consulting global organization EY. 

Ines Spanier, CEO Spanier Tex GmbH (in formation)

After receiving her Abitur, Ines Spanier studied agricultural engineering.

After her studies, she worked in an Agricultural Production Cooperative as a brigade leader in plant cultivation until 1990, after which she retrained as an export merchant. For 10 years she was assistant to management in a steel construction company; 6 years as sales manager for plastics Europe-wide for a plastics manufacturer. This was followed by 4 years as sales manager in the German speaking regions for a Belgian software company.

Starting in 2011, Spaniard was Managing Director of farmtex GmbH in Petersberg Saxony-Anhalt – wholesale trade of harvest synthetics for agriculture – Offline Handel B2B.

In 2018, farmtex GmbH established a second trading channel with online sales thereby addressing end consumers and private customers in the B2C sector.

The prerequisite for this future-oriented step was participation in the nationwide support program “Entrepreneurial Women of the Future”, a competition initiated by Amazon, the Association of German Entrepreneurial Women, Global Digital Women and the women’s magazine BRIGITTE. In the category “From Offline to Online” she reached first place; an invitation to Amazon in Seattle followed.

In 2019 she imparted her experience as a coach within the framework of the support program to this year’s winner, Moya Birchbark, in the category Offline to Online.

Dominik Krimpmann Managing Director & Technology Strategy Industry Lead im Bereich Travel & Industrial bei Accenture

With extensive background knowledge in information technology and business administration, Dominik Krimpmann has been advising numerous Fortune 500 CEOs, CTOs and CDOs on disruption for some time. In recent years, he has thereby successfully carried out over 50 business and technology projects. His experience, expertise and commitment enable Dominik to help clients achieve their goals through focused teamwork, reduce organizational uncertainties and deliver fast results. As a speaker at conferences around the globe, Dominik sheds light on the trends, challenges and opportunities he sees in a rapidly changing future.

Robert Marhan, EU HR Director Amazon

In 2000, Robert Marhan (42) began his career in logistics services at Amazon. He worked for ten years in operations, five years of which as site manager of the logistics center. With over 2,000 employees in normal operations and up to 5,000 during the Christmas season, this represents a unique experience and challenge for an operational manager. In 2015, his career took an exciting turn: He accepted the position as HR Director in the German logistics network. In this role, he combined his operational experience with his passion for people and their concerns. In 2017 he extended his area of responsibility to human resources in the European network. His team, consisting of local HR staff, project managers, scientists and analysts, oversees tens of thousands of employees and thousands of managers in nine countries. Before Amazon, Marhan worked for Lidl UK and was founder and CEO of an event management company.

Alexander Will, Managing Director Stocksquare & Area Manager E-Commerce Analytics & Business Development at OTTO

Alexander Will is responsible for the E-Commerce Analytics & Business Development Division at OTTO. A graduate in business informatics, he has over 10 years of experience in e-commerce stemming from the product development of the otto.de platform. As Managing Director of Stocksquare – a joint venture between OTTO and ECE – he is also driving forward the networking of stationary trade and online marketplaces under the heading of connected commerce.