By appointing Mark Christian Schneider (43), Professor Hans Georg Näder – President of the executive board – is bringing an experienced communication expert on board at Otto Bock HealthCare. The business journalist with many years of professional experience, working out of the Berlin office starting on February 1st, will be responsible for media and public relations as well as investor relations for the internationally active medical technology company.

In doing so, Mark C. Schneider will be able to tap into his extensive experience as a business journalist. Not only has he worked in the past for the "Handelsblatt" (a German business newspaper) and "Capital", he has also been involved in the PR side as press officer for the Ministry for Science and Culture of Lower Saxony. Most recently the automobile expert helped develop the "Bilanz" business magazine at Axel Springer and worked there as editor for nearly three years. His new employer is all about the topic of mobility as well: Ottobock is the global market leader in prosthetics with 56 foreign subsidiaries and more than 6,800 employees worldwide. In 2016 the company generated almost 5 per cent of growth for sales of around EUR 870 million.

In order to generate profitable growth and implement groundbreaking innovations for people with physical limitations even more quickly, Professor Hans Georg Näder in preparation for the IPO planned for 2019 recently announced that 20 per cent of the shares in Otto Bock HealthCare will be placed with private equity firms, large family offices and/or tech-funds before the IPO. The company is currently negotiating with potential investors in this regard. This transaction is slated to be concluded by the end of Q2 2017.

With an eye to planned corporate action, Mark Schneider will focus on intensifying contacts with business journalists as well as supporting Chief Financial Officer Stefan Ingildsen in the area of investor relations. Mark Schneider reports directly to Professor Näder and will be part of the Global Management Team for Otto Bock HealthCare.

Originally from Hildesheim, he began his professional life as a marketing officer for Göttingen local council. He was first introduced to Ottobock many years ago, and has authored a number of articles on the company and the proprietor. "I learned about Ottobock in the mid-nineties as an impressive example of internationally sought-after modern German SMEs. Since my first visit to Duderstadt where the company has its headquarters, I have been following its dynamic development. What is particularly appealing to me is that the company is not only successful, but also innovative for the benefit of people and society as a whole," Mark Schneider says.

Professor Näder is very much looking forward to this collaboration as well. "Our paths have frequently crossed in the past. I'm delighted that Mark Schneider has accepted my offer to not just write articles about Ottobock, but to work with us and for us. He knows the company and the region intimately, and he will be a pillar of support to us in raising public awareness for Ottobock and the subjects of mobility for people as well as quality of life."