Enthusiastic communicator

Asked about her nicest experience in the more than ten years that she’s spent at HHLA, Denise Jansen doesn't take long to reply. Three spring to mind: the first call of the Ever Ace at the Port of Hamburg – the world’s largest container ship at that time – and the visit to HHLA by Germany’s chancellor, Angela Merkel. Also unforgettable was the dawn film shoot at Container Terminal Altenwerder (CTA), where it was ten below zero up on the container gantry crane. “That was a really romantic port experience,” says the 29-year-old with a smile.

Jansen has enjoyed working in several different areas at HHLA, the first of them during her dual study course. She subsequently served as the assistant to CTA’s managing director, where she met Hans-Jörg Heims during an interview in 2019. The head of HHLA’s Corporate Communications appreciated Jansen’s continued enthusiasm and support of his department.  This prompted him to ask whether she might be interested in switching to Communications. Jansen didn’t take long to answer.

It is clear from Jansen’s enthusiasm for her work, almost two years into her position as a Corporate Communications officer, that she made the right choice. Her biggest project, which she is managing together with her colleague Susanne Schmitt, is “HHLA inside”. The company’s new intranet has been gradually introduced throughout the Group since 2021. “We have designed it as a social intranet – so it works like WhatsApp or Facebook,” Jansen says of its unusual design. “That removes any hierarchical barriers and enables everyone to communicate with one another. It will help inspire openness and contribute to a change of culture,” she is convinced.

Starting in 2022, an app will make it even easier to access HHLA inside. Jansen is glad that “at least our Hamburg workforce will have access to our social intranet via their smartphones.” It’s already clear that the offering is popular: “So far, nearly 3,600 of our employees have access, and 2,100 have already signed up. We’re registering more than 1,000 active users a day.” As editor-in-chief, Jansen’s is responsible for providing HHLA inside with a wide range of topical multimedia content. “I need to find the right tone to address everyone from the Executive Board to the quayside workers,” she says of the challenge she faces. 

Jansen is particularly proud of the information screens that have been installed at CTA and CTB. These display the latest news at critical nodal points. “We cover a wide range of issues that include information on quayside occupancy, warnings about rusty gangways, the weather forecast and the daily menu,” she reports. It is clear from the initial response that this is an effective way of reaching HHLA employees who don’t have a work email address.

While she now shares responsibility for communication in the entire HHLA Group, Jansen continues to have a special relationship with CTA. It was where she had her first up-close experience of a container terminal, while she was still at school. Her visit to CTA made such a deep impression on Jansen – who was born in Krefeld and grew up in Winsen – that she opted for a dual study course in logistics management. After gaining her bachelor’s degree, Jansen spent almost six years as the assistant to CTA’s managing director, Oliver Dux. “I know the terminal really well, and I’m looking forward to celebrating CTA’s 20th ‘birthday’ in 2022 with my communications activities.”

Published 01/2022