Thorsten Hinken
Nordhorn, the textile city in the green, is the birthplace of Thorsten Hinken. Here, he began an apprenticeship as a baker in 1984, which was followed by 7 years as a baker's journeyman. Since the 60-hour weeks and 18-hour shifts before holidays did not fully exhaust him, he completed his high school diploma at an evening school to then dedicate himself to studying biology. The very broad study program in Osnabrück allowed him, among other things, to research marine fauna and flora off Giglio (back then still without a shipwreck).
To finance a motorcycle during his studies, he worked as a caretaker, electrician, bricklayer, mud skipper, sandpaper packer, and asbestos disposer.
After completing his studies, he needed to earn money and started working as a sales engineer in the field of ultrapure water treatment and filtration technology in Munich.
Love drew him back to northern Germany and thus to his next position as a key account manager at Shield Medicare for disinfectants and contamination control in cleanrooms. The 100-person company was then acquired, along with its staff, by the large company Ecolab.
Since 2006, Thorsten Hinken has been responsible for customer support in the North and East German regions.
What did you want to become as a child?
A ranger at Daktari
What was your first car?
A 12-year-old Renault 14 TS with central locking, electric windows, and retrofitted interval wiper control
What do you enjoy?
People, animals, and plants, as well as weather, food, and music
What achievement are you particularly proud of?
The first vegetables I planted and harvested myself
Which technical achievement do you admire the most?
The sustainable cultivation of farmland
Who would you like to swap lives with for a month?
A kindergarten child in my wife's kindergarten
In which country would you like to have a second residence?
In southern France
Whom would you like to have met?
Julius Caesar
Which book would you recommend right now?
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond
What is your favorite food?
Something to eat
What is your favorite music?
From Mahler to Motörhead, from Abba to Abbado
What was the best advice you ever received?
Friendliness costs nothing
Do you have a motto?
Sapere aude (Dare to know, have the courage to use your own understanding)
Thorsten Hinken
Regional Key Account Manager
Dipl.-Biol
Life Sciences
Thorsten.Hinken@ecolab.com
Ecolab Germany Ltd.
Ecolab Allee 1
D 40789 Monheim am Rhein
