Melanie Heßler
Crisis Communication Manager
Experience
Jun 2024 - Jun 2024
1 month Aachen, Germany
Crisis Communication Manager
Client (FMCG)
- Accompanied ad-hoc internal and external communication during cyber-attack containment
- Led dialogue with employees, authorities (BSI), customers and suppliers
- Created a communication plan and a cybersecurity plan
Jan 2024 - Present
1 year 6 months Essen, Germany
Public Affairs & Event Manager
Westenergie AG
- Managed 360° event management
- Handled political stakeholder management
- Led communication on energy and heating transition
Oct 2023 - Dec 2023
3 months Spelle, Germany
Public Relation Manager
Krone Landmaschinen
- Managed public relations for Agritechnica 2023
- Wrote press releases and conducted media briefings
- Developed communication strategy
Apr 2023 - Dec 2023
9 months Hamburg, Germany
Investor Relationship Manager
Solvium Capital
- Provided strategy consulting to institutional investors
- Prepared newsletters and market updates
- Conducted telephone contact with investors
Jun 2022 - Dec 2022
7 months Kiel, Germany
Internal Communication Manager, Operation Change
Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems
- Communicated "mobile work" agreement and operational changes due to Industry 4.0 reorganization
- Reported results of collective bargaining for fiscal year 2022/23
- Conducted C-level interviews for strategic realignment on digitization
- Organized cross-functional teams and workshops to align positions of employees and management
Jul 2021 - Mar 2022
9 months Hamburg, Germany
Occupational Safety and Health / Internal Relations with COYO
Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG
- Created eight one-minute videos summarizing key information on areas under occupational health and safety management (flood protection, water protection, fire protection, occupational medicine, hazardous goods, social services, incident management, waste management)
- Ensured information was barrier-free and quickly accessible on the new mobile intranet "goes Coyo"
May 2021 - Nov 2022
1 year 7 months Kiel, Germany
Internal Communication and Change Communication
Ferring Pharmaceuticals
- Managed internal communication for a large remediation project
- Led change communication for digitalization projects (Veeva QualityDocs, VelocityEHS)
- Provided regular site updates (EHS, CEO communications, townhalls)
- Planned and realized a family day with 1,500 participants for the 50th anniversary
- Wrote, coordinated and produced two employee magazines (new production building & fertility)
- Produced videos for in-house screens
Sep 2020 - Jan 2021
5 months Mainz, Germany
PMO/Campaign Manager
Universitätsmedizin Mainz
- Implemented and managed the budget of the COVID-19 awareness campaign
- Installed guidance system with walking directions, distance and behavioral instructions within 6 weeks
- Steered agencies and creative team to produce posters, banners, construction fences, social media content, video, a comic and a hygiene quiz
- Won first place in "Patient Communication" KU Award for the comic strip "Erna and Victor save the world"
Nov 2019 - Jan 2020
3 months Aachen, Germany
Consultant
Sensor for Nursing/Healthcare Start-up
- Sharpened business plan with founders
- Developed pitch deck and produced an image video for investors and strategic partners
Jul 2019 - Sep 2019
3 months Germany
Change Communication Manager
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
- Managed launch and change communication strategy for two digital milestone projects
- Provided project management for digital transformation, apps and software
May 2019 - Jul 2019
3 monthsMarketing & Event Specialist
Deutsche Telekom Capital Partners
- Planned and supported annual summit
- Led strategy and tactics for press and public relations
- Managed accompanying content marketing and social media activities
Jan 2019 - May 2020
1 year 5 monthsInterim Manager
Crypto and Blockchain Start-up (PLC – London)
- Sharpened business case for crypto-currencies and advised on German-speaking market specifications
- Developed pitch decks and presentations
- Acquired sales partners and pushed test applications to signing readiness
- Established social media channels and defined content to lay foundations for reputation marketing
Feb 2018 - Sep 2018
8 months Hamburg, Germany
Communication Manager
Bredenoord GmbH
- Managed national internal and external communication and marketing communications in Germany
- Oversaw intra- and extranet, in-house information system (Netpresenter) and CMS for websites
- Headed national social media and public relations
- Supported international marketing and communication team
Jan 2016 - Dec 2017
1 yearConsultant
Focus First - Change Communications
- Set up onboarding guideline for new consultants using ONE Goal© methodology
- Described methodology for digital change and internal communications, including health check and success measurement
Jan 2015 - Dec 2017
2 yearsInterim CEO
Rheindigital
- Headed a team of 25 content strategists and editors
- Managed strategic planning, team development, cost management, new business and billing
- Developed inter- and social network content and social media strategy for clients such as Deutsche Post DHL and Meyer Hosen
Jan 2015 - Dec 2016
1 yearChange Communications Consultant
Riverland Reply / Lufthansa Cargo
- Planned change management and change communication alongside software implementation process within a global air freight carrier
- Supported Industry 4.0 transformation
Jan 2015 - Present
10 years 6 months Hamburg, Germany
Interim Manager Communication - Change and Reputation
Management Leaks
- Owner and founder of interim communications for change & growth communications
- Expert in change communication, corporate & crisis communication (internal & external), communication offensives, employer branding, content strategy & content marketing (intranet), brand image & reputation management, campaign management, public relations & affairs, investor relations and lobbying
- Uses project management and agile leadership (OKR, SMART), awareness campaigns (5-senses strategy & nudging), KISS (keep, improve, stop, start)
- Brings analytical and tactical strength, empathy and creativity, motivator, leader and team builder committed to goals, timelines and budgets
Jan 2004 - Dec 2015
12 years Hamburg, Germany
CEO
PR MarCom
- Owner of full-service PR, marketing and social media agency for B2B/B2C communication in high-tech, life science, logistics, insurance, sustainable food and beverages
Jan 2002 - Dec 2004
3 years Munich, Germany
Senior PR Manager
Waggener Edstrom
- Senior Account Executive at Microsoft Embedded & Appliance Group (EAPG) in Germany, France and the UK
- Team management and coordination across national and cultural borders
- Analyst relations for the Alcatel Annual Forum in Paris for technical analysts and the business press
Jan 2001 - Dec 2003
2 years Munich, Germany
Senior PR Manager
Lewis Communications
- Media relations for high-tech companies
- Project and EMEA client management
- Strategic and tactical PR consulting and planning concepts
- Budget responsibility
Jan 1998 - Dec 2002
3 years Bonn, Germany
PR Assistant
Claudia Conrad Management Consultancy & PR
- Assisted in PR and lobbying
- Wrote speeches, status and position papers on political developments
- Conducted research
Jan 1998 - Dec 2002
3 years Munich, Germany
PR Managing Director
Lucy Turpin Communications
- Managed a high-tech PR & MarCom agency
- Client management for technology sector
Summary
Melanie Heßler is an expert for highly complex communication tasks, including Change communication, corporate & crisis communication (internal & external), communication offensives, employer branding, content strategy & content marketing (intranet), brand image & reputation management, campaign management, public relations & affairs, investor relations and lobbying.
Internal change communication is a central competence in her broad communication spectrum. Her creative tactics are aimed at planning and implementing change and creating awareness and broad acceptance for growth and change in organisations. She uses all touchpoints, existing channels and integrates modern dialogue systems where possible or necessary.
Analytical and tactical strength, empathy and creativity are her strengths. She is a motivator, leader and team builder with a strong commitment to goals, timelines and budgets.
Expertise:
- Hands-on mentality
- Goal- and results-orientated
- Socially competent
- Diplomatic
Methods:
- Project management
- Agile leadership with OKR and SMART goals
- Awareness campaigns (5-senses strategy & nudging)
- KISS - keep, improve, stop, start
Values:
- Integrity
- Loyalty
- Ambition
- Ambition
Languages
German
Native
English
Advanced
Education
Oct 1992 - Jun 1997
Julius-Maximilians-University
Magister Artium · Political Science, Public Law, Sociology · Würzburg, Germany
St. Angela Der Ursulinen
Düren, Germany
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