Stephan Knaeble, Managing Partner

Before joining DVJ I worked as Head of Consumer Panels at GfK Germany for several years, followed by becoming Vice Global Consumer Panels at GfK, leading a large team. In January 2020, I started at DVJ Insights as a Managing Partner in Germany. I really liked DVJ being privately owned, winning awards, and being agile. I also liked that their methods are academically based, and I was drawn to DVJ’s team approach and them being content- and knowledge driven.

Building DVJ Germany

I didn’t know DVJ before I started working here. A former DVJ colleague asked if I wanted to help launch DVJ in Germany, which made me curious. I perform best when I’m building new innovative solutions and set up new teams. Building up a brand in a new market really excited me! What as a business case, led to a supervisor role as Managing Partner.

“As a Managing Partner, I get the freedom to perform my best, have fun and deliver success to the team.”

I was soaked into the German adventure of better meeting local client’s needs and exploring the market in Germany and beyond. I had less experience in research details but had a lot in business development and strategic consultancy (specifically consumers and shoppers). I always like to learn, improve and innovate. As a Managing Partner, I get the freedom to perform my best, have fun, and deliver success to the team. It is nice that everyone of us brings in their own expertise, passion and experience to build upon. Together, we can help clients grow their brand and markets.

Earning the role of trusted advisor

The past 2 years I build a team of extremely experienced and motivated cowboys/girls. Recruiting the right people for the job and expanding the team, and at the same time finding more and more clients. It is fun to present and share DVJ with my network, continue to build strong relationships and start new ones. Earning the role of trusted advisor and becoming a preferred supplier. Proactively thinking along with the brand and providing insights and custom made solutions, that is what we do. Working together as a team is really fun and I have noticed that the collaborative approach we use at DVJ, working in a tandem with the research experts, works great. I love to sell and consult and I am proud to be an expert in what I do best.

Doing things differently

At DVJ we use implicit approaches that are academically based. We approach the ‘why’ behind the what, using MassQual techniques. That was something I missed in my previous job, I used to do the what in consumer panels but rarely focused on the why.

‘’That was something I missed in my previous job, I used to do the what in consumer panels but rarely focused on the why.”

Global approach

I work for global brands, retailers, multinational brands and national brands. Each segment has clients with different needs, which always keeps it interesting. It is also fun to work with smaller and more agile clients and help them grow fast.

Since DVJ shifted to a global approach (working with one global team instead of a separate Dutch, German and UK team serving the markets), I was asked for a different role of developing and expanding our shopper expertise. It is nice to consult global clients about different and interesting topics across many countries.

What do you want to say to potential colleagues?

At DVJ there is always room to explore and become even better. Like our CEO, Lucas Hulsebos, says: ‘’We have the overall ambition of being the best, not the biggest”. To be successful we need talented colleagues that match our ambition and want to help clients grow their brand.