Questions to Paul Hekel, Partner at COPS since 1.1.2022!

Name

Paul Hekel

Position at COPS

Partner

In the company since

2008

Hobbys

Splitboard-Tours, Travelling (or both of it in combination), Crossfit

What connects me to COPS is…

… 14 very exciting, diverse years - during which I was able to learn a lot from COPS and hopefully COPS was able to learn a lot from me as well.

In 10 years…

… I am probably still with COPS. Our solutions have solidly evolved and adapted to the ever more dynamically changing environment.

copsnews: Hi Paul, congratulations on your new position! On Jan. 1, 2022, you were promoted to partner in the company. How does "partner" sound to you in a professional context?

Paul Hekel (phe): Thank you very much! When I think of "partner", I automatically think of "partnership"! It is an honor for me to be able to help shape the further path of COPS as a partner. I am very much looking forward to this.


Paul Hekel 

copsnews: Now the position partner tells our readers something about your position in the company, but nothing about your tasks. What is your area of responsibility and does something change for you with the new "positioning"?


"Already in the past PMS was one of my central tasks. The newly added tasks have already been started and will be continued by me."

phe: As most readers probably already know, we were able to take over the source code of PMS in the middle of last year. I was allowed to take care of the onboarding of the PMS development and now also the further development of the software. PMS was already one of my central tasks in the past. The newly added tasks have already been started and will be continued by me. So not much has changed.

copsnews: What is happening in this area and what can we expect in the near future?

phe: We were able to complete the onboarding of Much-Net customers last year. The license creation, documentation, release management, stability tests and support have also been reorganized. We have also added employees with many years of PMS experience to our team in order to ensure maximum service for our customers.

The release process passed its baptism of fire with the roll-out of the first version PMS 11.4.8 in October 2021. With this version, the first parts of the IBOR reform have been implemented. In addition to the usual maintenance work that must be performed on a software on a regular basis, new portfolio simulation functionalities were also rolled out in the asset management area.

In 2022, we can expect further exciting topics to be implemented - and things have already started in this direction: At the beginning of the year, there were changes to the SFTR reporting to implement, and later in 2022, the first changes related to the upcoming EMIR Refit, the final implementation of which is scheduled to take place in Q1 2023. Surely, there will be one or two surprises to come at first glance this year.


"Of course, many things have become more professional, but the very collegial interaction in the company has remained."

copsnews: You can actually already be called a veteran of the company. And yet you only recently celebrated your 40th birthday. How has COPS developed in your eyes since 2008? How does your career fit in and what were your personal highlights?

phe: Since 2008, a lot has changed at COPS on the one hand, but on the other hand it hasn't. Of course, many things have become more professional, but the very collegial interaction in the company has remained. Over the years, I would call many of my colleagues friends, with whom I really enjoy spending time (which is of course an advantage for some projects on site). As personal highlights I can mention the "COPS UserTreffs". Although they take place every year, they are always different and individual. Location, content and supporting program change every year and therefore each event remains memorable. I am therefore very pleased that another COPS UserTreff can take place this year in May.


"For example, I was recruited in 2008… while playing basketball, and I then brought a few fellow students along myself.…"

copsnews: That sounds very familiar. How do you explain the collegial interaction that has been maintained for so long and what do you think is the reason for it?

phe: Yes, that's it too! What's the reason for that is a good question! I think that, on the one hand, the chemistry with the existing team is very important for us with new, potential colleagues and, on the other hand, general, internal communication "at eye level" certainly also plays a role. It's also not unusual to recruit friends or acquaintances. For example, I was recruited in 2008 by the system administrator at the time (whom I've known since elementary school) while playing basketball, and I then brought a few fellow students along myself.

copsnews: Then we should go and play a round of basketball soon and capture some more exceptional talent to go into the future with us. Thank you Paul, for this very interesting interview and good luck and success as a new partner at COPS.

phe: Sounds like a solid plan, we should do it! Thanks for the congratulations and the interview!

 
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