coconet strengthens leadership team and lays the foundations for its next phase of growth

With these changes to its Management Board, coconet is strengthening its market and customer focus in particular and positioning the company for further international growth. At the same time, coconet is continuing to develop its platform for a banking world in which companies increasingly manage their financial processes digitally, through connected systems and with the support of AI. The aim is to help banks link new forms of access and interaction securely with existing processes, permissions and regulatory requirements.

Dennis Rochel takes over as CEO

Dennis Rochel has been part of coconet for more than 13 years and has played a key role in shaping the company’s technological and strategic development across a range of leadership positions. Since 2023, he has served as Chief Technology Officer and a member of the Management Board, with responsibility for areas including the continued development of the product platform and key innovation initiatives.
As CEO, Dennis Rochel now assumes overall responsibility for coconet’s strategic development. He succeeds Björn Hassing, who has stepped down as CEO for personal reasons. Over almost two decades, Björn Hassing played a defining role at coconet and was instrumental in advancing the company’s development. He will remain connected to the coconet Group and support the company in an appropriate capacity in the future.

“For almost two decades, Björn Hassing has shaped coconet with exceptional commitment, entrepreneurial foresight and a clear understanding of our customers’ needs. Under his leadership, the company has developed into an internationally recognised partner in corporate banking. On behalf of the Supervisory Board, I would like to thank him sincerely for all that he has achieved and for his lasting contribution to coconet’s development. We are delighted that he will remain connected to the coconet Group, and we wish him all the very best for the future.” – Kai Köppen, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of coconet

Christian Maier becomes Chief Revenue Officer

In Christian Maier, coconet is gaining an experienced executive with more than 16 years in the software and financial services industries. Most recently, as Sales Director Financial Services Germany & Austria at ServiceNow, he was responsible for the company’s business with banks and financial services providers in Germany and Austria. His experience spans enterprise software, digital transformation and the development of successful customer and sales organisations.
As coconet’s first Chief Revenue Officer, Christian Maier will be responsible for the company’s market-, sales- and customer-facing functions. The newly created role brings together key commercial functions and is intended to help coconet pursue international market opportunities more consistently, develop customer relationships further and strengthen collaboration across the entire customer journey.

Together with CEO Dennis Rochel and CFO Dr Reinhard Festag, Maier will play a key role in shaping the next phase of coconet’s international growth strategy.

“In Christian Maier, we are gaining a highly accomplished sales and industry expert whose international experience and unwavering focus on customer success will be an excellent addition to our Management Board. Together, we want to lead coconet into its next phase of growth. Corporate banking is becoming more connected and increasingly AI-enabled. For us, what matters is not who makes the loudest AI promise, but who can carry trust, permissions and secure execution into this new world. That is precisely where our strength lies – and it is the foundation on which we intend to continue growing internationally together with our customers.” – Dennis Rochel, CEO of coconet

Bringing technology, markets and customers together

With CEO Dennis Rochel, CFO Dr Reinhard Festag and CRO Christian Maier, coconet’s Management Board will bring together technology, financial and commercial expertise. The expanded leadership structure creates the foundations for the company to advance its international growth strategy while continuing to build on the strengths for which coconet has long been known: lasting partnerships, high standards of quality and a deep understanding of the requirements of corporate and business banking.