Each week, we dig into the memory bank of the City’s great and good. Today, it’s Dirk Hahn, chief executive officer at Hays

CV

• Name: Dirk Hahn
• Job title: Chief executive officer at Hays
• Previous roles: Over 20 years at Hays in various leadership roles, including MD of Hays Germany and CEMEA and group head of strategy.
• Age: 57
• Born: Reutlingen, Germany
• Lives: London, UK / Mannheim, Germany
• Education: Business Administration, University of Tübingen
• Talents: Building strong relationships, inside and outside work, and surrounding myself with talented people.
• Motto: Win with purpose.
• Biggest perk of the job: Helping thousands of people each year find their next role. Jobs are central to people’s lives, and it’s deeply rewarding to play a part in that.
• Coffee order: Espresso
• Drink of choice: Gin and tonic
• Favourite book: Business and management literature – I’m not a fiction person.

What was your first job?

My first student job was at the Bosch factory in Germany. Fitting parts to washing machines taught me the value of hard work, what it means to collaborate with people from all walks of life and the satisfaction of a job well done.

What was your first role in recruitment?

My first recruitment role was with Hays in 2001, placing IT and engineering........

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