Global digital commerce specialist Astound Commerce has announced immediate new leadership appointments in its DACH market, a region primed for digital commerce growth in 2023. Lasse Klein, Patrick Marquard, and Pascal Richter will share equal responsibility for Astound Commerce DACH as Co-Managing Directors, a move that will deliver a fresh, well-rounded approach to serving clients in that market.
Based in Germany, Klein, Marquard, and Richter bring years of forward-thinking digital commerce knowledge, complementary skill sets, unique business perspectives, and dedicated market leadership experience to this shared role. Each colleague will also remain responsible for their specific area of expertise while taking on additional in-market needs; this will ensure the continued successful delivery of best-in-class solutions and superior service to Astound’s valued clients and partners in the DACH market. The new Co-Managing Directors will report directly to Astound Global CEO Michael Kahn (MK).
“A well-deserved congratulations to Lasse, Pascal, and Patrick—they are the future of digital commerce in DACH and for the company,” says MK. “They each bring forth bold, visionary ideas, a collaborative spirit, and a sense of adaptability that is much-needed to lead in today’s marketplace. The DACH market is in very trusted hands.”
As with his previous role as Client Success Market Lead for DACH, Lasse Klein will continue to focus on strengthening client relationships in addition to in-market human resource and office management responsibilities. He brings more than 10 years of extensive knowledge of digital ecosystems across industries. Klein joined Astound in 2021, following a stint at deepblue networks AG. He holds a BA in B2B Brand Positioning and an MS in Marketing and Communication.
Patrick Marquard will continue to oversee consulting and strategic business development in addition to in-market finance & controlling, and business administration. In his five years with Astound, Marquard’s other roles have included Head of Consulting and Senior Key Account Manager. With an MS in IT management and prior account management experience at Hellmann eCommerce, Marquard is an adept problem-solver, dedicated to devising holistic digital commerce solutions for Astound’s clients with his team.
Pascal Richter joined Astound in 2019, when he began as a Senior Sales Executive, subsequently moving into the role of Sales Market Lead for DACH in 2021. Richter’s current scope beyond that of Co-Managing Director includes sales and partnership-related duties, marketing and press, and share of market alignment. Prior to joining Astound, Pascal earned comprehensive experience including the founding of his own startup as well as positions at Oro, Inc., Testrut (DE) GmbH, and rdz GmBH.
The new co-managing directors will build on the continued success of the DACH market, firmly established by former Astound DACH CEO Lars Feldscher, which includes world-class brands PUMA, Hunkemöller, SNIPES, s.Oliver, Swatch, and others. Like the market they lead, Klein, Marquard, and Richter are ambitious for the future and ready to go and grow.