Marc Opelt: from radio presenter to OTTO Executive Board member

The way to OTTO

Actually, OTTO was not his favorite employer at all, says Marc Opelt. After studying business administration at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Marc applied to various companies. OTTO was one of them - but more because of the stories of good friends. Marc was invited for an interview with the head of the marketing department at the time. Then everything happened very quickly: after a good two-hour conversation, the head of marketing was convinced - and so was Marc. The conversation wasn't just about marketing and the individual tasks, Marc says, but above all about the people at OTTO, the colleagues and the cooperation. That convinced Marc.
So the move from Nuremberg to the new dream city of Hamburg followed. Marc still remembers his first day at work very well: "In front of the elevators in the office building, I met the then Head of Marketing, who immediately gave me a warm welcome. That was when my good gut feeling was confirmed," Marc recounts during the interview.

The daily work routine

Nowadays, Marc's day starts at 7:15 in the morning and is usually jam-packed with appointments from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.. Whether it's divisional board meetings, workshops or routines with a wide variety of people, and preferably on campus - it certainly doesn't get boring. And, are all tasks equally fun? "Administration is definitely not one of my favorite things to do," Marc admits with a laugh. However, he really enjoys all areas of responsibility, from strategy to market development to technology, and Marc is passionate about transformation.

Life before OTTO

From 1984 to 1990, Marc studied business administration at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and graduated with a degree in business administration. He then joined OTTO directly, but besides side jobs as a bartender and car repair shop, there was something else he did before joining OTTO: Marc was briefly a radio host at Radio Starlet in Nuremberg during his studies. Back then, he had to bring his own records to play there. Marc was allowed to host a whole five shows before this career was over again. The radio station stopped broadcasting after only three months. So: board member instead of radio presenter.

Changes at OTTO

More than 30 years have passed since Marc's first day at work, and OTTO has changed again and again. The first thing that comes to Marc's mind is the corporate culture: "This has already changed dramatically, you just have to say that." For example, until 2017 it was still customary to be on a first-name basis. Today, being on first-name terms has become the norm across all levels, and Marc can't imagine it any other way. He also says that the speed at which the culture, business model, technologies and structures are changing has grown exponentially in the past three to five years, especially compared to the past. So Marc is certain that OTTO has done a lot right. But, he says self-critically, a lot could have been implemented even faster. For example, the first proposal for a marketplace model was already on the table in 2006. More than ten years later, the proposal was expanded to a platform model. In addition, Marc says, "we started to dramatically rebuild the company. A new business model requires a new organizational and operational structure. This makes us even more efficient." The change also includes a new kind of transparency. At the monthly UNPLUGGED event, the four board members report openly to all employees about business figures and developments and leave room for questions.

Marc about OTTO

If you talk to Marc about OTTO, it quickly becomes clear that two topics are particularly close to his heart: The transformation with all the changes and the people in this company, who are shaped by a common set of values in their daily interaction. He is convinced that this is precisely why many employees have been working at OTTO for many years and are very satisfied. Along his personal career, the Executive Board member reports on many Group decisions that coincided with his convictions and values. As the person responsible for transformation at OTTO, he enjoys the trust that his colleagues place in him and that they pass on to all employees: "Even in difficult times, our colleagues at OTTO stand by us as we try to sail this ship through transformation. That's one side of it, and apart from that, of course, I'm happy every day to meet and work with all kinds of different people at OTTO. "In the course of this, Marc also talks about the home office due to Corona, which, as he says himself, he suffered from a lot and still does.

"All my motivation comes from our organization and from people who have explained things to me, with whom I go into exchanges and with whom I can discuss, so that in the end the best result comes out for the topic at hand. I've always enjoyed that and I still enjoy it today."
Looking to the future, Marc sees OTTO as a major German supply platform with a very strong retailer and an equally strong marketplace, as well as outstanding advertising services. "We want to have the largest range of sustainable items in our store".

The private person Marc

In his free time, Marc prefers to cook for his family and friends together with his wife, and then it can also be more elaborate. This is just as relaxing for him as traveling or hiking. In his private life, Marc cannot do without music. For a few years now, classical music has also been one of them - thanks to the friends who got him started! Actually, Marc keeps it with the music magazine Music express. As soon as the new magazine arrives, Marc rummages around for new and old songs. "From the 60s to today, everything is actually there," Marc tells us. For example, the 60-year-old goes to Deichkind concerts or even lets rapper Kendrick Lamar play at the Opelt home from time to time. Finally, we ask Marc to describe OTTO in one short sentence: "OTTO? Great people, transformation and permanent change!"

Nothing more to add to that, except, thank you very much for the great interview, dear Marc!