My Life in Treasury: Katja Zimmermann, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG

An Interview with Katja Zimmermann, Head of Corporate Treasury, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG

In this edition, we are delighted to feature Katja Zimmermann, Head of Corporate Treasury, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, who describes her career so far and offers advice to finance professionals considering how best to develop their careers in treasury.

How did you come into treasury and what attracted you to that profession?

I did my degree at Berufsakademie Mannheim (now Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg), specialising in banking, on a structured programme combining both study and work. This was a great opportunity to study whilst gaining practical workplace experience. It was only after doing a Master’s degree in London that I decided to pursue a role in treasury. Before then, I had not been aware of corporate treasury, but recognised that it offered more variety than banking, with responsibility for FX, derivatives, capital market, loans etc. rather than a single product line.

How did your career progress through to the role that you hold today?

My first treasury role was with Escom AG as assistant treasurer, and I then moved to Asta Medica AG, part of former Degussa AG, which is now part of the Evonik Industries group. In 1997, I moved to Heidelberg where I have spent the past eighteen years. Spending a long period in the same company is very interesting as you witness more clearly the changes to the business, and the wider market in which it operates. Naturally, my role has developed significantly over this time, so it continues to be diverse and rewarding.

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