GFK
Joerg Hesselink , Global Head of IT Infrastructure at GfK , on coping with disruption , transitioning to WFH , and digital transformation with hybrid multi-cloud
Think data analytics is new ? Think again . GfK has been a global leader in data and analytics for more than 85 years , conducting its first studies in 1934 – long before computers , the internet , and Super Mario Kart ( more on that later ).
The German company continues to innovate and serves some of the world ’ s leading brands as a trusted partner by providing world-class analytics that promise to not only deliver descriptive data but also actionable recommendations .
However , even with such insight , it would have been near impossible for GfK to predict the COVID-19 pandemic and its swift and severe implications . Companies had to act fast , accelerating their digital transformations . GfK was no exception , but perhaps better prepared than most .
Joerg Hesselink is Global Head of IT Infrastructure and has end-to-end responsibilities for the company ' s network and related services – including data centres , servers , backup storage databases , and cloud infrastructure services .
“ I ' ve been in this industry now for 29 years , and I have to say that during the pandemic was the toughest , but also the most rewarding year ,” says Hesselink .
“ When you look at IT infrastructure , it is typically a backend job . Consumers of your service don ' t realise what you ' re doing unless something gets broken . But this time ,
Joerg Hesselink , Global Head of
IT Infrastructure , GfK
214 June 2021