Deutsche Telekom Exclusive interview with Telekom CEO Timotheus Höttges

Bonn · Deutsche Telekom is a major part of the international fabric of Bonn. Carol Kloeppel of GA-English interviewed CEO Timotheus Höttges about Telekom, his perspectives on Bonn and the international community.

How long have you lived in Bonn?

Timotheus Höttges: 16 years now. I moved here when I started working for Deutsche Telekom.

Many CEOs live in places like New York, London and Munich, but you are here in Bonn....what does this mean for you personally and for Telekom as a global telecommunications giant?

Höttges: Of course, compared to these big metropolitan areas, to some we seem to be less attractive e.g. for the young talents that we need at Deutsche Telekom. But I believe Bonn has a lot to offer. We are the town of short distances. People know each other, people meet each other at many occasions and they help each other. We simply get things done together. And we successfully convince many people about our strengths and advantages. Our new board member Srini Gopalan for example, just moved here from London. But of course, being located in Bonn means: More traveling to be really a part of the tech-industry ecosystem and see all the innovations from all over the world.

How did you learn English and how important is this in your work? Do you speak any other languages?

Höttges: I learned English at school. And of course while working on international projects. English is the business language. Therefore I have to use it very often. At the same time I realize that young people who had the chance to study abroad and spent time in an English speaking country use English much more naturally than I do.

How many international employees are working at Telekom headquarters in Bonn and how do they contribute to the overall character of the organization?

Höttges: We have more than 1,000 international employees in Bonn. And that alone is a benefit. Many studies prove that diverse companies are more successful than others. Therefore we embrace diversity and our international employees are just one example. They bring different views, different management styles and even different knowledge. This makes the whole organization stronger.

How much of the year would you estimate that you are in Bonn - or on the global road? Where do your main travels take you?

Höttges: I am not only a “working guy” but also a “family guy”. Therefore I try to be in Bonn as often as possible and I avoid “over-night-travels” whenever I can. My business travels usually take me to the countries where Deutsche Telekom operates, such as Austria, Poland, the Netherlands, Rumania, Croatia or Czech Republic. And of course I visit the hot spots of technological innovation, e.g. the Silicon Valley and Israel.

There is much discussion about painting Bonn as an international location with the many UN organizations and over a 100 NGOs. Do you see Bonn as an “international city” or what makes a city “international”?

Höttges: You see, we are still a very international town. We have the United Nations here and international companies such as Deutsche Telekom or Deutsche Post. We provide an infrastructure which appeals to international talents, e.g. our International Schools. Also the surrounding is very attractive, e.g. the Rhine and the Siebengebirge. We offer a wide range of cultural facilities, e.g. the Bundeskunsthalle. And big cities such as Cologne or Frankfurt are very close. But after all it’s the people who work and live here. They make us international.

Are you personally in touch with the international community in Bonn? What do they bring to the city?

Höttges: I meet many people from the international community at Deutsche Telekom. They bring their cultures, their views and their traditions here to Bonn. Something which I consider as being very enriching. Bonn might be provincial when you look at its size but it surely isn’t when you look at the spirit.

When people from other countries come to Bonn, whether they are working for the UN or other int’l organizations, they need mobile phones, internet and a hard line but don’t understand a word of German when they arrive. Is there a customer service, website or phone number they can call at Telekom to set up contracts or receive support in English?

Höttges: Yes, there is. Our English service- hotline for fixed line is 0800-330-1080 and for mobile it’s 0800-330-2202. Of course many people in our shops and on the regular hotlines speak English as well.

When international Bonners move on to another country or are sent back home, they often report having trouble to terminate their mobile phone contracts with whatever service provider they are using. They may still be paying a German mobile bill even though they have long since returned to Michigan. What is Telekom’s policy on that or what is suggested for customers in this situation? Some people ask if there are any plans to develop a more ex-pat friendly service...

Höttges: We offer contracts with less than the usual 24-month term. And we also offer many attractive prepaid tariffs also for data. They can be terminated very easily. I am cautious with special offers because unfortunately sometimes they are misused or the customer base is just too low so that we would actually create a loss-making business. Many ex-pats for example use their business mobiles and just give them back when they return to their home country. But I will ask my chief marketing officer about this idea.

What are your favorite things about Bonn...and what do you like to do for fun and relaxation when you are not working?

Höttges: My favorite things about Bonn are of course the Deutsche Telekom and the Rhine. I like watching the ships go by. That’s somehow relaxing. And in my spare time you can certainly find me on the golf course.

(Carol Kloeppel)

Meistgelesen
Neueste Artikel
Zum Thema
Aus dem Ressort