UTE WITGEN
Purchasing & Sales
How did you become part of the Brüning Group?
After 20 years at the Bremen Handelshaus, I needed a change of career. I have known the Brüning Group practically since the beginning, because I am from Fischerhude myself. Even back then, I could feel the dynamics within the company: whenever I was there, the phones were constantly ringing and the office was buzzing with activity. I was inspired by this energy and knew that I wanted to work in exactly this kind of environment.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Definitely the sense of community! We are a great team and enjoy spending time together even outside work. The working atmosphere is friendly rather than merely professional. This applies not only internally, but also to many of my customer and supplier contacts. I particularly appreciate the trust placed in us in our day-to-day work: we are allowed to act independently and flexibly, which enables us to make quick decisions and respond to changes at short notice. That’s exactly what makes the job so varied.
What characterises the Brüning Group for you?
It’s the diversity – both in terms of the products and our network. I also find working across units particularly enriching, for example when linking tours. On top of that, there’s the straightforward way of working together, our employer’s generosity, regular outings and clear management guidelines – all of which shape the special corporate culture at the Brüning Group.
What do you find most exciting about the market situation right now?
No two days are the same – that’s what keeps things exciting. Working through a fixed to-do list rarely works because something can always come up: audits, power plant outages, short-term market changes. Weekly price negotiations are therefore just as much a part of our work as close communication with customers and suppliers. We always have our ear to the ground so we can react quickly and keep our partners informed at all times.
What has been your funniest experience at work so far?
There is no single funniest experience, because there is simply too much going on. Every week brings new moments of laughter, whether within the team or when interacting with customers and suppliers. One of them regularly tells me about his evening plans, while another once proudly (and maybe a bit too graphically) told me about the birth of his child. One moment that really stuck with me was a surprise visit from a supplier on my birthday – I spontaneously introduced him to my family as my new boyfriend, and he played along without hesitation!