Employee interview – Louis Criquet-Carbillet

Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?  

My name is Louis Criquet and I’ve been working for the last one and a half years in the marketing department at Bechtle as an Apple Business Manager (or Vendor Integrated Product Manager Apple). I completed a dual-studies Masters programme in Marketing at the EM Strasbourg Business School and during my years of vocational training, I worked closely with Bechtle employees, which was my first contact with the company.

Tell us about being a VIPM at Bechtle.

VIPMs are an interface between Bechtle and a specific manufacturers and I’m lucky enough to work with Apple. A VIPM represents a brand and is responsible for all business activities and ultimately its success at Bechtle. That means working very closely with the marketing department to define sales and marketing plans.

We are in regular contact with the sales team to hash out brand-related projects and also with our customers, offering them support and answering their questions to the best of our abilities. To do so, it’s essential that each member of the team is able to hone their expertise in the products and services offered by the particular brands, which is why we attend on-site or online training courses as well as workshops in collaboration with the manufacturers.

To a certain extent, the sales department is our customer, too and so it’s essential to really listen to what they have to say. My aim is to support the sales team in putting together the best possible offers to suit the needs of our customers. I have a pretty good relationship with Bechtle sales as we are all passionate about what we do.

I’ve had a lot of experience with Apple products which has made it much easier for me to develop my skills! When I first started, the Apple team took me under its wing and taught me how to identify Apple’s business value. Bechtle also offers numerous in-house training courses to help with the onboarding process, all of which made my first steps in the company very easy.

To be a VIPM at Bechtle, it’s important to be a good listener, have interpersonal skills and a curious mind as we’re learning every day in this job.

We work together on a daily basis to achieve our shared goals so I have quite a good relationship with Apple.

Regular and honest communication is important for ensuring our customers are satisfied and that we deliver high-quality results. If something isn’t going as planned, we have to work hard to put it right, but we also have to pat each other on the back when things go well.

The key to success has always been a mutual understanding between both parties.

Bechtle operates in an incredibly dynamic industry in which the market is constantly changing. There’s always something new to discover and therefore never boring.

Bechtle is a large company with an international presence and it’s relatively easy for us to spread our wings within the business and discover all kinds of different jobs. I find that incredibly interesting. I also like the international aspect as I have contact with the Apple Business Managers at other subsidiaries. It’s great to have a community within the company as it gives us an opportunity to share our best practices.

I love tech, which means I have to because they set the bar for innovation. You could say I’ve always been an Apple rep.

I started with an iPhone, went to school with a MacBook Air and have also been the proud owner of an iPad and an Apple Watch. You could say I’m pretty familiar with the Apple ecosystem and really like using the company’s products outside of work.

I also love its image and the values the company exudes.

I’ve loved football since I was child, probably because of my Dad who was a player before he became a coach. Olympique Marseille has always been my team and I’ve been lucky enough to watch several matches at the Stade Vélodrome and soak up the unique atmosphere there.

I played for the same club between the ages of five and 25 and even played in a handful of international tournaments, the most memorable of which was definitely in Barcelona. These days, you’ll find me battling it out on the pitch against my Bechtle colleagues.

I’m generally quite sporty. I like to run, cycle and play tennis. I love everything about sport.

I love travelling.  I spent my last holiday in southern Corsica and think fondly back to those white sandy beaches and turquoise water.

I’m planning a road trip around Iceland because I like the adventure. I’m not interested in lounging by the hotel pool. I want to immerse myself in the culture and discover everything the country has to offer.