By Goodluck Ikiebe
Nigeria’s leading engineering construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, has announced a change of corporate guard at its financial directorate at its head office, Abuja.
Mr Martin Brack, who has served the company as its Financial Director since 16th December 2017, has been replaced by Christian Hausemann.
The company has also notified the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the appointment by the Board of Christian Hausemann, another veteran of the financial operations of Julius Berger as Director and its new Finance Director.
At a well-attended transition party held in Abuja last week to bid the out-going Mr Martin Brack farewell and welcome the new financial director, Mr Christian Hausemann, the change of guard at the financial directorate of the company was operationally consumated.
In attendance at the colourful night of lively, healthy, encouraging and positive speeches and eulogies for both Brack and Hausemann were members of the company’s executive management and the Board of Directors, corporate CEOs, executive directors and other senior officials from the Banking and financial sector and other key private sector operators as well as public officials.
The Chairman of Julius Berger, Mr Mutiu Sunmonu, set the cheerful tone for the lively evening when he welcomed invited guests to the event. Thereafter, the Managing Director, Engr. Dr. Lars Richter took the podium where he effusively celebrated the outgoing and incoming financial directors.
Richter traced Martin Brack’s career journey with Julius Berger Nigeria to the year 2000, having joined the Nigerian operations from Bilfinger Berger, where he worked for some time as Head of the Controlling Department and then as Head of the Commercial Department of GKW Plan, an engineering office within Bilfinger Berger.
Martin, Richter said, began his career in Julius Berger Nigeria at the Commercial Department in head office, where his determination and negotiation skills helped to significantly accelerate customer payments and improve the company’s cash flow.
His success soon led to his appointment as the Commercial Manager of the then newly established Facility Services Nigeria (FSN) division, where he established reporting and controlling tools for maintenance projects, negotiated contracts and supported to realize the business plan and acquisition strategy of the facility services business together with the executive management.
Richter recalled how in 2006, Martin was entrusted with a new assignment as the Divisional Commercial Manager of what was then known as IGO Division, the company’s Industries, Gas and Oil specialized team.
During his time with IGO, Martin, the Managing Director testified, “…demonstrated sound judgment, quick comprehension and strong negotiation skills”, adding that, “…major projects were awarded and completed during his tenure, for key domestic and multinational clients, including: Chevron, Shell, General Electric, Dangote, Oando, NLNG, BUA, Azura and more.”
In 2017, Martin became Financial Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, a job that Richter describes as challenging and highly demanding, and where Martin had to deal with an immense range of issues routinely and which requires above-average time management skills and the ability to set the right priorities.
Richter commended Martin for his success on his financial director’s assignment with Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.
On the incoming financial director, Richter said Christian is not new to Julius Berger, tracing his journey with Julius Berger way back to 1997.
Christian, he said, had worked across operational divisions, and held the position of Commercial Manager for Region West in Lagos, from 2009 to 2016, before returning to Germany to work with the company’s German subsidiary, Julius Berger International GmbH, where he soon became Chief Financial Officer in 2018.
The MD happily welcomed Christian back to Nigeria and to the position of Financial Director, adding that he looks forward to his contributions in his new role.
With every speaker at the event, the night became a cheerful celebration of the seamlessly excellent corporate culture of strength and productivity that has become definitive of the enviable Julius Berger Nigeria Plc brand.
In his remarks, the outgoing Financial Director , Martin Brack ,said with understandable nostalgia, “…after over two decades, it certainly does not feel like I am saying farewell to friends and colleagues…because I feel Nigeria to be a part of me.” Brack added that he felt that way because “of the genuinely good working environment in Julius Berger and in Nigeria, where work is more than a set of tasks, being a connection to people and place.”
Brack who is going back to Germany as the new Chief Financial Officer of Julius Berger International, thanked the company’s shareholders, chairman, Mr Mutiu Sunmonu, Managing Director, Engr Dr Lars Richter, and all the members of the Board and executive management as well as the workers and the industrial unions “for their outstanding support and cordial relationship over the years.” Brack enjoined the Julius Berger Nigeria Plc family to extend the same cooperative support to his successor, Mr. Christian Hausemann.
On his part, the incoming financial director, Christian Hausemann, who gave the vote of thanks at the event said, he considered it a privilege and honour to have been asked to give a vote of thanks at the occasion. He also thanked the chairman, Mr Mutiu Sunmonu, the MD and members of the board of directors and his colleagues in the executive management, all captains of various industries and heads of institutions as well as staff and invited guests for taking out time from their busy schedules to graciously attend the event.
Christian Hausemann expressed his sincere gratitude, adding that he feels humbled by the opportunity given to him to serve as the Financial Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.
Significantly, Christian also expressed his personal appreciation to Mr Brack for the detailed handover, wishing Martin good success in his new role at Julius Berger International in Wiesbaden, Germany.
Lastly, Christian Hausemann, evidencing a good and harmonious relationship and trajectory with the Julius Berger Nigeria Plc workforce, good-naturedly solicited an appreciative round of applause from the colourful and cheerful audience for the company’s staff who brilliantly put the beautiful event together.
