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Professional athlete Katharina Menz starts as a management trainee

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It is getting to be Olympic at the KIPP Group

Professional athlete Katharina Menz starts as a management trainee at the company that is a partner to top-level sport

The career of Katharina Menz, professional athlete and decisive figure in the German judoka national squad, is already sensational: Six German championship titles in a row from 2014 to 2019, bronze at the European Championships in Prague in 2020, bronze again in the team event at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021. It is fantastic that we can boast having such a professional athlete in our region - specifically: as a management trainee in the KIPP Group. Or in other words, according to the slogan of the German Judo Federation: "It's Judo time".

The KIPP Group has now been known as a partner company to top-level sports and thus a sponsor of young Olympic athletes for the last 3 months. For example, the companies in the group support young athletes by offering career training and as a general employer in the extremely difficult challenge of balancing competitive sports and career.

Katharina Menz, a professional athlete and an "energy bundle par excellence", studied mechatronics/electrical technology and will complete a two-year trainee programme at the specialist for standard elements and automation to start her working career. In order to be able to take part in countless national and international competitions, the highest flexibility is required on the part of Ms Menz and the KIPP Group.

While getting to know each other, Katharina Menz, who was born in Backnang and still fights for her home club - TSG Backnang - in the 1st National League, tells of her daily intensive training sessions. "We aim for three to four hours a day, seven days a week," says Katharina. "In addition, we are underway for almost half of the year - travelling all continents". Nicolas Kipp, who runs the company in the fourth generation together with his father Heinrich Kipp, is impressed by this intensity. In response to his question about the average duration and number of fights in a competition, Katharina Menz replies: "It has happened, such as in Brazil, that I flew there and lost the first fight. In that case, I was back home three days later". However, everyone hopes that she will be spared this in the future.

In April, the whole KIPP crew will be keeping their fingers crossed for Katharina as she competes in the European Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. "We would be delighted to welcome her back at the company as European champion afterwards" says Karl-Josef Rebmann, Member of the Executive Board and responsible for Personnel and Organisation in the KIPP Group. He knows and appreciates this kind of cooperation and has lots of experience in working with top athletes and the Olympic Training Centre.

The entire region will benefit in many ways from having Katharina Menz here and the commitment of the KIPP Group. "For example, Katharina will give training sessions at regional schools as part of physical education classes. Gaining initial experience from a professional athlete in the sport of judo is definitely a highlight," agree Bernd Plocher, also Member of the Executive Board and responsible for Finance and Controlling at the Group, together with Human Resources Manager Ralf Kauffer. A joint photo with the professional athlete, including an autograph ensured a happy conclusion to the meeting.

Asked by Heinrich and Nicolas Kipp about the ultimate goal in her future sporting career, Katharina spontaneously replied: "The Olympic Games in Paris in 2024. A successful result there would fulfil my greatest dream". In order for this to become reality, we will support her "to the fullest extent of our abilities", say Nicolas Kipp and his father Heinrich in unison.

About the company: The KIPP Group is an alliance of solid partners. A total of 6 German companies in the fields of standard elements and automotive share common synergy effects and are thus optimally positioned for the future. Worldwide, KIPP Group customers benefit from the commitment and knowledge of around 900 employees at a total of 28 locations in Europe, North America and Asia. Being successful and achieving goals is only possible in the long term on the basis of strong and jointly shared values. Responsibility, Dynamism and Fairness are therefore the foundations for successful day-to-day cooperation.

                       

                  

Career at KIPP

                       

                  

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