Michael Mueller

Head of Communications at SCHOTT

Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

About

Innovations made of specialty glass are often small, require explanation, and are complicated high-tech. But they always enable things that change the world. As the thinnest, most flexible glass in leading foldable phones, a mirror substrate in the world's largest telescopes, or a glass-ceramic cooktop in modern kitchens worldwide, my team and I translate products and corporate topics into emotional and engaging stories. My professional background before joining SCHOTT: 15-year journalistic footprint (Head of the broadband department @ onlinekosten.de; Tech-Blogger @ BASIC thinking; freelance writer); PR consultancy provided to international companies such as SAP, Fujitsu, or Google, at FleishmanHillard. My scientific background: Business & Economics (B.Sc. / University of Frankfurt), International Marketing & Management (M. Sc. / University of Mainz, Yeditepe University Istanbul).

Experience

  • SCHOTT (Full-time · 9 yrs 9 mos)
    • Head of Corporate Communications
      Feb 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 5 mos

      As the Head of Communications at SCHOTT, I manage and oversee the external communication strategy, guide content distribution on numerous touch points, and keep nurturing media relations. Always aiming for developing and implementing communication measures that align with SCHOTT's corporate goals, values, and help protecting and growing reputation. My key responsibilities include several media touchpoints, such as PR, media relations, BoM/C-level positioning, media events such as the annual press conference (earned), social media (shared), and website content (owned), always in close contact with SCHOTT's performance marketing unit to ensure data-drivenness. In 2023, I established a Newsroom structure within the MarCom community at SCHOTT and managed a major change project to grow a news-driven mindset. I created the TechStack based on Jira (tailor-made) and have been moderating the weekly Newsroom meeting to date. 🚀 In addition to traditional PR tasks, I enjoy a great deal of creative freedom, which allows me to develop and produce flagship storytelling video formats that are in line with SCHOTT's core values. After three very successful seasons of our social media series "The Receptionist" featuring Michael Kessler, we are now producing an epic documentary that will follow us for several years starting in 2025. 🔭

    • Head of Innovation PR & Storytelling
      May 2021 - Feb 2024 · 2 yrs 10 mos

      As #glasslovers, we have the most special relationship with the material glass. My team and I translate this passion into exciting and engaging stories told in all-new and progressive content formats. Our awarded storytelling format "The Receptionist" feat. comedy legend Michael Kessler (watch here ➡️ https://www.schott.com/en-gb/the-receptionist 👮‍♂️) marked the starting point for a new facet of Innovation PR, focusing on emotion and entertainment. This human-to-human approach (H2H) adds a new layer to the communication of a traditionally B2B-focusing company like SCHOTT, keeping clear business goals in mind while telling the stories in a universal way that's easy to digest and entertaining for everyone.

    • PR & Communication Manager
      Oct 2016 - May 2021 · 4 yrs 8 mos

      Innovations made of specialty glass are often small, require explanation and are complicated high-tech. But they are always enabling things that change the world. As the thinnest, most flexible cover glass in foldable phones, as a mirror substrate in the world's largest telescope (ESO’s ELT), or as a CERAN glass-ceramic cooktop in kitchens around the world. I translate new products into a larger, more emotional context, strengthing the fascination for glass as a material in both B2B and end-consumer environments.

  • Tech-Blogger at BASIC thinking GmbH
    Aug 2012 - Oct 2017 · 5 yrs 3 mos

    Subjective, opinion-charged work as a Tech Blogger for the commercial and popular German tech blog BASIC thinking. Writing articles concerning the topics Internet, Startups, Electronics, Smartphones and Computers. Published 4 out of the Top 10-articles of all time (1 / 2014). Overview: http://www.basicthinking.de/blog/author/mmu/

  • FleishmanHillard (Frankfurt am Main und Umgebung, Deutschland)
    • Senior Account Executive (Digital & Tech PR Consultant)
      May 2015 - Oct 2016 · 1 yr 6 mos

      PR consulting and support of various key accounts in the technology environment. Writing of press releases, media relations, event and project work including social media management. Customers include major key accounts from a wide range of industries, including consumer electronics, storage, appliances, software, business software / ERP / predictive analytics and security software.

    • Account Executive
      Apr 2014 - May 2015 · 1 yr 2 mos

  • Research Assistant at Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
    Oct 2009 - Apr 2014 · 4 yrs 7 mos

    2nd Level Hardware & Software Support, Account-Administration, AD installation of workstations, reparation of workstations, IP-configuration and coordination.

  • Department Manager, High-speed internet at Onlinekosten.de
    Jun 2003 - Aug 2012 · 9 yrs 3 mos

    Department Manager “Broadband Internet” from 2005 (November) until the start of my studies in 2007. Self-organized writing of articles and reports. Taking care of the DSL Tariff-database and the background content, answering reader’s mails, testing products (mostly smartphones).