Five by Three Questions: Gaining fresh perspectives: Meet the Members of the NKG Coffee Council – INSIDE NKG

OUT OF THE BOX

Five by Three Questions: Gaining fresh perspectives

OUT OF THE BOX

Five by Three Questions: Gaining fresh perspectives

Meet the Members of the NKG Coffee Council

The newly established NKG Coffee Council aims to support NKG at a strategic level as an independent Think Tank. Its five members bring diverse perspectives and professional backgrounds from different industries – all united by a curious and open-minded interest in what drives and shapes NKG. In this special edition of our “Five by Three Questions”, we would like to introduce you to the people behind the Council. What motivates them, what guides their thinking – and how do they hope to contribute to NKG’s future?

What motivated you to become part of the NKG Coffee Council – and what fascinates you about the world of coffee?

On which topic or issue do you feel you can support NKG most effectively?

What belief or mindset guides you in your work – and maybe even in life?

Coffee connects people. And not only the friends, family or business partners that meet "for a cup of coffee"; it also connects producers and consumers like few (if any) other beverages. I spent eight years of my life consolidating the coffee industry, ultimately creating the global number two in coffee. But it's always been that connection, the stories people share over a cup of coffee, that has made coffee special for me. So I am glad that through the NKG Coffee Council, I can stay close to coffee after having moved on from it professionally.

Having served for many years on the Boards of Jacobs Douwe Egberts as well as Keurig Dr Pepper, I can bring the customer perspective to NKG. While serving on those Boards, I also spent a lot of time on sustainability, existing eco certifications and their limitations as well as potential ways to overcome them etc. I think in particular the second topic is a critical one for the entire coffee industry and one where I hope to be able to add value.

I strongly belief that life comes from you, not at you. As such, I try to pursue everything I do with integrity, the ambition to make a positive difference and with fun.

Anna-Lena Kamenetzky-Wetzel,
Self-employed as Investor & Advisor

What motivated you to become part of the NKG Coffee Council – and what fascinates you about the world of coffee?

On which topic or issue do you feel you can support NKG most effectively?

What belief or mindset guides you in your work – and maybe even in life?

Diversity of thought can be very powerful in resolving complex problems and I liked the idea of being part of a different ‘think tank’ concept to support the owner and management of NKG. Coffee is both very old in its traditions and very young in terms of its potential and growth in current society, which is fascinating.

During my career, I have worked in Energy and Soft Commodities, including as Group CFO of Louis Dreyfus. My experience has mainly been in trading, risk management, M&A, financing, restructurings and raising (private) equity. It will be a pleasure to contribute as a member of the Coffee Council to challenges in some of these areas.

One for All, and All for One.

Armand Lumens,
Group CFO MidOcean Energy Holdings Ldt.

What motivated you to become part of the NKG Coffee Council – and what fascinates you about the world of coffee?

On which topic or issue do you feel you can support NKG most effectively?

What belief or mindset guides you in your work – and maybe even in life?

Let’s start with the obvious: I love coffee. It’s tasty and necessary and a cultural artifact at the intersection of many cultural movements and moments. It also plays a role in many of the world’s biggest issues and questions, from sustainable agriculture to logistics to geopolitics to affordable goods. There is, for example, hardly a Sustainable Development Goal that is irrelevant to coffee as a product, as a livelihood, as a cultural good. I jumped at the chance to learn more and be part of this world.

Another topic playing a key role in today’s challenges is technological progress. Over the years, I have worked with many brands and organizations that were facing technological challenges or trying to seize new opportunities – often both. I am always eager to share what I’ve learned and to build on that knowledge with new partners and challenges. In fostering technological and transformational understanding and abilities, I want to enable NKG to play a bigger role in driving and seizing on technological advances.

It’s more of a habit than a mindset, a combination of having interesting conversations, of listening, learning and connecting, of sharing my own insights and of bringing people together. I enjoy meeting people on eye level, learning from their experience and supporting them with what I can offer. This is also part of why I’m excited to work with NKG, a company run by its owners and filled on every level with passionate entrepreneurs and true experts in their field. I find a lot of joy in what I do, and that in turn helps me feed my steadfast optimism.

Christoph Bornschein,
Entrepreneur, President of Digital Strategy, Business Development & Growth, Omnicon Germany & Chairman TLGG Consulting + TLGG Agency

What motivated you to become part of the NKG Coffee Council – and what fascinates you about the world of coffee?

On which topic or issue do you feel you can support NKG most effectively?

What belief or mindset guides you in your work – and maybe even in life?

In my first meeting with David Neumann, I was impressed to learn about the value creation that had happened under his leadership, and at the same time his openness and drive to challenge the status quo - not resting on past achievements, but thinking boldly about NKG’s future. The company’s potential for the future is obvious. I am very excited to be part of the NKG Coffee Council and to work together in such a small, highly-skilled team to develop these opportunities on a strategic level, as a kind of «think tank». I am fascinated by the complexity of the coffee world and the challenge of reinventing this industry in light of all the developments we are experiencing in the world.

Asia Pacific: I have worked in and with Asia Pacific for almost 20 years
Fast Moving Consumer Goods: I managed the consumer goods business of DKSH, the leading market expansion services provider in Asia, a business with >EUR 4 Billion sales and 20'000 staff and
Company transformation: when I joined DKSH in 2003, a very comprehensive transformation process started. We guided the company through post-merger integration, reinvented the business model, changed the organizational structure, and returned the company to a high growth trajectory. The ownership model changed from family to private and ultimately culminated in a very successful IPO. I served on the Executive Board for almost 10 years and over that time managed large P&Ls but also headed corporate functions like HR, Strategy or Investor Relations. An incredibly diverse and exciting journey which allows me today to easily connect the dots and put myself into the shoes of various areas and roles within a company.

One of my key concepts both in work as well as life in general is what I call „Big dream – and small steps“. I truly belief it is essential for any company and also for an individual to have a „big dream“, a „desired state“, a vision which provides the „why“, the direction, the pull that gets us out of bed in the morning. Yet a dream alone is not sufficient. Defining and diligently taking every day small steps towards that dream is crucial. The following through, keeping promises to ourselves and to others creates trust and confidence. Ultimately, a company’s success or our life’s story is shaped not just by ambition, but by the small steps we consistently take.

Martina Ludescher,
Business Angel and Advisory Board Member to startups, Non-Executive Director

What motivated you to become part of the NKG Coffee Council – and what fascinates you about the world of coffee?

On which topic or issue do you feel you can support NKG most effectively?

What belief or mindset guides you in your work – and maybe even in life?

When I was presented with the opportunity to join NKG, I was immediately convinced. The world of coffee fascinates me due to its depth, cultural significance and the unique fusion of tradition and innovation. What particularly resonates with me is the craftsmanship, precision and passion embedded in every single bean – from its origins on the plantations to the perfect roast. Simultaneously, this represents a sense of responsibility: enhancing quality, ensuring fairness and driving sustainable impact.

Throughout my career at Tchibo and currently as CFO/COO at HUGO BOSS, I have gained valuable insights into the complexities and challenges faced by globally operating organizations. I am now focused on leveraging this experience to drive impactful solutions and provide strategic guidance. My objective is to navigate NKG through the business environment with strategic foresight and operational flexibility, while continuously identifying and capitalizing on new opportunities.

Trust, responsibility and a positive mindset – those are the values that guide me. I believe people thrive when they’re given space to grow and feel truly supported. And yes, being the father of four daughters definitely keeps me grounded. In the end, it’s all about creating a space where people feel seen, heard, and trusted – whether at home or at work.

Yves Müller,
CFO, COO and Director of Labor Relations Hugo Boss

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