10 Things You Didn't Know about Dirk Hoerig

Are you familiar with Dick Hoerig, the CEO of Commercetools? If you are, then you already have something on a lot of people who aren’t in the know. That’s largely because he seems to be one of those CEOs that practically operates in the shadows. Very few people know much about him because he has a tendency not to make waves. As is typically the case, that only makes most people want to know more. If you’re one of those individuals, you're in luck. Here are 10 things about Dick Hoerig that you probably won’t find anywhere else.

1. He tends to keep his head down and do his job

He isn’t one of those CEOs that is always making headlines (either good or bad). Instead, he spends the majority of his time at his desk, completing his work rather quietly. As far as he's concerned, that's exactly how it should be. He's never understood how some CEOs seem to practically thrive on the attention they get for doing their job. He's quick to point out that most other people don't get attention for doing theirs, so he doesn't necessarily feel like he should be any different.

2. He’s not exactly a big fan of fanfare

As you can tell, he's not exactly a fan of being in the spotlight. Even if it's for all the right reasons, he says that he far prefers to spend his time doing his job as opposed to getting a lot of attention. As far as he's concerned, all that really does is put the spotlight on the company, thereby adding to the pressure that everyone is undoubtedly already feeling. It also takes precious time away from working hours, something that he simply isn't willing to do.

3. He expects everyone around him to work as hard as he does

He is an individual that works hard and he expects everyone around him to put in the same type of effort that he does. He admits that there is a time for relaxation and fun, but there is also a time when work is to be done. He doesn't tend to enjoy the thought of mixing the two. As a result, he expects his staff to show up promptly and give it everything they have throughout the entire workday. He also expects them to work after hours when it's necessary to do so.

4. He like to push boundaries

He probably wouldn't have made it this far as a CEO if he didn't like pushing boundaries. To be perfectly honest, it is a quality that most people would agree is required in order to be successful in that particular position. As far as he's concerned, it's not that much different from anything else he's done throughout his life, as he has always pushed boundaries. He says that there is no other real way to grow.

5. He’s never been happy doing business the same way twice

He actively looks for opportunities to grow, both professionally and personally. As such, he does his best to change the way he does business every time he works with the same client. This might alarm some people, but it isn't like he's talking about doing something radically different every time he works with a client. Instead, he's referring to simple things like taking a client out to lunch one time and then having them meet at the office the next time. The point is that he's always looking for a slight difference because it is in those differences that he feels he has the best opportunity for growth. It gives him a chance to find out new things about his client and sometimes, even about himself.

6. He’s excited about how technology is changing the face of business

There is no doubt that technology is changing the way people do business. That's something that excites him a great deal. He loves the thought of not knowing exactly where this type of technology will take the world within the next 5 to 10 years. The thing he's most excited about is being on the cusp of it all as it happens.

7. He enjoys the creative aspect of developing internet software

He has commented on a number of occasions that the reason he enjoys developing internet software so much is because it has a truly creative aspect to it. He's gone as far as to describe it as being in the same vein as other creative endeavors such as performing or writing. He believes that the biggest barrier lies in the imagination. Once people begin to imagine that something can be done, they tend to find a way to make it so.

8. His work ethic is outstanding

This probably doesn't come as any surprise, given his desire to steer away from the spotlight and put in an honest day's work, but he does have a work ethic that is well known for being second to none. He tends to get to work earlier than the rest of his team and in many cases, he stays later. He is not a fan of CEOs that get paid a lot of money, yet are largely absent. He prefers to lead from the front and he has a hands-on approach.

9. Most people seem to like him

CEOs can gain a notorious reputation for not being liked. In some cases, they’re not even respected, but merely tolerated. That is not the case here, as more than three-quarters of the people who have worked with him say they enjoyed the experience. That's a fairly significant amount, especially when you consider the fact that he works in an environment that is moving at such a breathtakingly fast pace that you can't take a break for five minutes or you'll fall behind. That's why he pushes himself and his staff so hard. Clearly, he has surrounded himself with people that are as passionate as he is himself.

10. He doesn’t really like being in the public eye

One of the reasons that there is so painstakingly little information about him is that he prefers to stay out of the public eye. You already knew that he didn't like being in the spotlight, but he has never understood why there is typically more information about a company's CEO than there is about the company itself. He says that he is not there to draw attention to himself, but to the work that the company is doing.