Dept Strengthens Its DACH Leadership Team with Two New VP of Delivery Positions

Dept, the self-proclaimed "Growth Invention Company," is expanding its leadership in the DACH region with two key appointments. Franzis Heusel has already joined as VP of Delivery for Creative & Media, and René Dalock will officially assume the role of VP of Delivery for Experience & Engineering on September 1. According to the company, the two will work together to ensure that Dept’s operations in the region run smoothly and deliver tangible results for clients.

Franzis Heusel: Creative Expertise from the Advertising World

Heusel has had a long career in the creative and media industries. Most recently, he served as VP of Content at Statista, where he was responsible for the platform’s content. Prior to that, he served as CEO of the detailM Group and was managing director at C3 Creative Code and Content in Berlin. For eight years, he served as Managing Director at BBDO Berlin, where he expanded the agency to more than 130 employees. He also served on the executive board at Jung von Matt.

His client portfolio included brands such as VW, Deutsche Bahn, Sparkasse, Audi, and BSH. A recipient of Effie, bcm, ADC, and Cannes Lions awards, Heusel says he combines bold creative ideas with the ability to bring them to life on a large scale. «Good creative work only really counts when it resonates with customers. That has always been my measure of success,» says Franzis Heusel. «That’s why I focus on the close connection between creative and media, because communicative impact only unfolds when both work together from the very beginning.»

René Dalock: Digital Transformation and Technology Proficiency

Dalock brings more than 20 years of experience in digital transformation, including in retail and technology companies. Most recently, he served as Managing Director and Chief Delivery Officer at nexamind, a boutique agency specializing in the practical implementation of AI solutions. Prior to that, as Managing Director at Scayle, the e-commerce subsidiary of About You, he built the business from scratch to more than 50 million euros in revenue and led it until its acquisition by Zalando. In this role, he developed commerce experiences for brands such as Deichmann, Fielmann, Harrods, Manchester United, and FC Bayern Munich. Prior to that, he spent several years working at the IT strategy consulting firm BCG Platinion and at IBM.

«I’ve known Dept for years—first as a client, then as a partner. What won me over was the quality of the work and the people I have the privilege of working with here,» says René Dalock. «For me, it’s all about bringing the right people and the right technology together to solve our clients» problems in a sustainable way.”

Additional Perspective from the DACH Team

Natalie Martens, VP of Clients at Dept DACH, commented on the appointments as follows: «René and Franzis understand delivery from different perspectives—one focused on technology, the other on creativity. For our clients, this means greater speed, greater reliability, and teams that contribute ideas right from the start.»

These two appointments are part of Dept's ongoing investments in leadership for the DACH region. Most recently, the company appointed Christina Kutschinski as VP of People for DACH and Käthe Lisson as Executive Creative Director & VP of Creative for DACH.

Blackroll, trusted by athletes worldwide for innovative health and recovery products, has appointed Dept as its global digital partner to drive its ambitious transformation. The multi-year partnership will reshape Blackroll's digital presence as the brand evolves from a product company to an AI-powered longevity platform and service-oriented ecosystem.

From regeneration tools to the longevity platform

Blackroll has built its reputation on a simple insight: Regeneration is not a break from training, it is what makes progress possible. For almost two decades, the brand has championed this philosophy through science-based products and partnerships with elite athletes and has become synonymous with regeneration in Germany and beyond. Now the brand is expanding this approach, evolving into a holistic health hub that combines physical products, digital coaching, marketplace services and AI-driven personalization to guide customers throughout their daily recovery - from active training and sleep optimization to sustainable habit formation. Dept will turn this vision into reality and develop the digital infrastructure needed to scale this ecosystem globally.

"We are undertaking a company-wide transformation: We are evolving Blackroll from a product brand to an AI-powered longevity platform," said Scott Zalaznik, CEO of Blackroll. "In partnership with Dept, we are implementing a transformation program that strengthens the brand, builds platform capabilities across products, coaching and services, and accelerates international market expansion."

"Blackroll isn't just scaling - they're pioneering a new category," adds Franklin Schamhart, VP Experience at Dept. "The challenge is to transform static routines into an intelligent system that adapts to each user's progress and uses feedback, data, coaching and AI to drive sustainable habit formation. This is the infrastructure for the future of longevity."

Development of a globally scalable platform

Dept was selected following a competitive pitch process and will lead the digital strategy, branding, experience design and technology development across web and app platforms. The partnership underlines Dept's momentum as a growth invention company and builds on recent client wins such as Wero, Lufthansa and Zalando as the company continues to help ambitious brands grow faster.

Access to digital healthcare is to be redefined

The Swiss insurance world is in the midst of a digital transformation and Concordia wants to play an active role in shaping it. With the clear vision of creating a digital presence that is simple, user-friendly and future-proof. The project strengthens the technological basis, responds to new customer requirements and AI tools and at the same time improves accessibility and performance. In the selection process, Dept impressed with its holistic approach, the combination of strategy, design and technology, as well as its proven expertise in Adobe Experience Manager, cloud architectures, accessible digital design and in-depth data, SEO and GEO know-how.

"With this partnership, Concordia is laying the foundation for the next chapter of our digital transformation," says Benjamin Heimgartner, Head of Marketing at Concordia. "We are creating a digital experience that is intuitive, inclusive and deeply customer-centric, strengthening the Concordia brand."

Shaping the future of healthcare

Proximity to customers is at the heart of the project: The new website not only aims to make access to complex insurance information clearer, easier to understand and more accessible, but also places great emphasis on personal advice, whether online or in one of the 160 locations in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein. With the new platform, Concordia is switching to Adobe Experience Manager in the cloud and combining user-friendly design with modern architecture and flexibility - so that users can access the information and services they need more easily and quickly in future.

"This collaboration stands for trust that comes from design and technology," says Yann Wanner, Director of Business Development at Dept DACH. "Together with Concordia, we are developing a platform that combines empathy, simplicity and performance - setting new standards for digital experiences in the healthcare sector."

With this partnership, Dept aims to strengthen its presence in the healthcare and insurance sector and continue its success story in the DACH region with projects for Lufthansa, BioNTech, Mammut and Switzerland Tourism.

Uber is currently running a large-scale campaign at Geneva and Basel airports and at busy train stations in Switzerland. The campaign was implemented by PHD Media Switzerland in collaboration with Goldbach Neo and the agency Dept. The focus is on travelers, who should be made aware of the Uber app directly at the point of arrival and at the moment of mobility decisions. Uber is positioned as a convenient solution for the first or last leg of the journey and the worldwide availability of the app is emphasized.

The forms of advertising used include mega posters, digital screens and branding on baggage carousels and in transit areas. At airports, travelers are targeted in areas such as check-in, arrivals, transit and general airport areas. Measures are also being implemented at railroad stations such as Zurich main station, Winterthur, Bern, Lucerne and Lausanne.

The campaign has been running since April 2025 and ends in September. It will continue at Zurich main station until the end of November.

Martens will head up client consulting at Dept and be responsible for the account management team. In collaboration with the agency's creative and media teams, she will look after clients such as Lieferando, Salamander and eBay. The appointment follows the appointment of Wolfgang Lünenbürger-Reidenbach as SVP and Head of DACH and underlines Dept's expansion course in the region.

Prior to her move, Martens was responsible for brand strategy and business growth at Grey Germany. Prior to that, she held senior positions at Jung von Matt. Her strength lies in the combination of creativity, data and technology - an approach that fits well with Dept's strategic direction, according to a press release.

"Creativity alone is no longer enough - brands need ideas that work at the intersection of creativity, data and technology," says Martens. "Dept is made for this new era where innovation and execution go hand in hand."

Switzerland wants to be climate-neutral by 2050. The energy solutions company Helion Energy has set itself the goal of actively driving forward the new energy world. But how does Helion Energy manage to prevail against 700 competitors in a highly competitive market? Especially in the field of solar systems, heat pumps and charging solutions, where comparable services are offered. The answer: with an outstanding digital user experience, including in the form of the best Swiss app of 2024 (BOSA) - the Helion One app.

The Video of the LSA Live Talk from Wednesday is now online.

On Wednesday, the Winner Talk took place in Zurich following the Award Night of the "Best of Swiss Apps" Awards 2024. Giancarlo Palmisani, Head of Association Services at the Swico trade association, welcomed the guests to the premises of Dentsu Switzerland.

From the virtual to the real world

Valentin Holzwarth, one of the three founders of AtlasVR, presented the "Bitumen VR" app, the world's first VR training app for flat roof welding. He spoke about the development path of the virtual training technology. This led the creators of the app through many rounds of brainstorming, the consultation of technical experts and the final development and programming. AtlasVR and the client Suissetec took a critical look at the added value of the app to be developed, the opportunities and risks and the gos and no-gos. Before the idea of "Bitumen VR" was born, they had already considered a number of other options, such as welding simulators or press loops, to teach trainees how to weld. However, none of these ideas came to fruition due to the high material and disposal costs. "Then - rather unexpectedly - we ended up with Bitumen VR," says Holzwarth. And so began the development of "Bitumen VR" and with it virtual welding.

The client Suissetec also waved the proposed app concept through. This also solved the cost problem. According to Holzwarth, 27 tons of material costs can be saved annually with Bitumen VR, and disposal costs are also eliminated.

23 weeks - according to the AtlasVR co-founder, that's how long it took to develop the app that brings welding from the real to the virtual world. After a few sleepless nights during the development phase, the app was finally rolled out. But that wasn't the end of the story: A Switzerland-wide app launch, instructor training, tech support - all of this is also part of the process, says Holzwarth. Daniel Stamm, Head of Training at Suisstec, emphasized that convincing instructors and apprentices to recognize the added value of the virtual welder application should not be underestimated. "All levels have to be brought on board, which is a challenge," he said.

However, Suissetec and AtlasVR are confident that "Bitumen VR" will soon be used in many inter-company welding courses. The fact that the app won gold in the Extended Reality category at the Best of Swiss Apps 2024 Award Night is certainly a good starting point for development. AtlasVR is aiming to develop further applications with similar added value. One thing is particularly important to the young company: focusing on added value right from the start.

Making the sun tangible

The development team of the "Helion One App" and Winner of the Master of Swiss Apps also offered guests at the Winner Talk a "deep dive" into his experiences during the project. The new development, which also won gold in the Customer Experience, Design and Functionality categories at the Award Night in addition to the Master title, replaces the old app with the Helion 2.0 version. Milo Peter, Experience Director at Dept, explained that the reason for this upgrade was that the first app version came from the category "By engineers - for engineers". The aim was therefore to work with Helion to build a new app that all customers would find easy to use. The development team immersed themselves in the topic by investing a lot of time in research and gathering customer feedback. Peter showed the guests at the Winner Talk some of the different approaches they were considering, particularly for the new design of the app. With many discussions, the team was "going in many directions". However, they often heard feedback along the lines of "the design is too abstract, too technical, not emotional enough".

"Based on this feedback that we should make the whole thing more emotional and make the energy transition tangible, we moved away from the abstract elements and tried to visualize the sun," said Peter. In the app, the sun is representative of solar production. The aim of visualizing the course of the day in the app is to show users how much energy they consume. At its core, however, is the optimization of the solar energy consumed. This was the starting signal for the app's creators to launch the main project. After setting up the design system and making many changes and simplifications, the app was ready to be used by all target groups. "We want to pick up the retired grandpa just as much as the IT geek," says Ramon Müller from Helion. In summary, Müller said that the app is now "more colorful, emotional and modern than the previous version". The focus is on Helion's differentiation strategy: standing out from the competition and offering real added value with the new app. In conclusion, he added: "Ultimately, we want to get closer to our goal and create a 100% renewable Switzerland". (Dylan Windhaber/rja)

This article first appeared in Netzwoche.

Wolfgang Lünenbürger-Reidenbach has more than 30 years of experience and is considered a pioneer of digital marketing in Germany. His career includes leading roles at Edelman, Burson Cohn & Wolfe as well as supporting agencies in their digital transformation. In addition to his professional career, he breeds Icelandic horses and manages Germany's largest riding club.Joanna Trippett, CEO EMEA of Dept, emphasizes: "Wolfgang brings an impressive wealth of experience that will strengthen our presence in the DACH market. His track record of building sustainable agencies and his focus on an inclusive working culture are a perfect fit for our growth ambitions."

Wolfgang Lünenbürger-Reidenbach adds: "I have never seen a better combination of best-in-class engineering, strategic thinking and innovative and creative solutions for marketing and technology - it is exciting to be part of this team."

Strong DACH strategy

With this appointment, Dept is underlining its focus on growth in the DACH region. Recent successes include the collaboration with the Lufthansa Group and the realignment of Salamander's brand communication. The agency is known for its end-to-end CX and digital marketing solutions and serves companies such as Google, Logitech, Netflix and Lieferando. As a B-Corp certified company, Dept focuses on sustainable innovation and strong customer relationships.

Michael Hinderling is leaving Dept after almost five years with the agency. His time at the agency comes to an end after a successful night at this year's Best of Swiss Apps Awards. The mobile app for the solar energy company Helion won several awards, including the prestigious Master's degree. A successful conclusion to her years at the agency, as was reported in a press release.

Since the merger of Hinderling Volkart and Dept, Michael Hinderling has been responsible for the newly formed Swiss unit. Two years later, he shifted his focus to strategic consulting and innovative individual projects. During his time at Dept, Hinderling also completed further training on artificial intelligence and its implications for business strategies at MIT. In parallel to his work at the agency, he worked as an independent designer, providing his own clients with brand strategies, digital identities and websites.

According to the press release, Michael Hinderling now wants to tackle new challenges and visions. His next project is the conception of an immersive museum that will link digital and physical worlds. Hinderling is also considering founding a boutique agency after his departure from Dept, as he himself communicates. He is simply waiting for the right opportunity and constellation. (Dajana Dakic/cka/swi)

This article first appeared in Netzwoche.

One of the developments presented was the growing influence of creator content over brand content as the main source of creative content. This shift represents a turning point as it is a significant change in how brands interact with their target audiences and how they influence them.

Another important moment of the evening was the unveiling of Chat.myswitzerland.com. This pioneering project aims to enable interaction with the web-based platforms of Switzerland Tourism and its offers via chat. By using state-of-the-art technology, the creators of chat.myswitzerland.com are striving to usher in a new era of information provision and digital interaction.

Werbewoche.ch documents the event with two exclusive video talks that capture the experts' opinions and visions of the trends. Dept's Trends Forecast '24 event offered participants an insight into the upcoming challenges and opportunities in the field of marketing and left them with new ideas and inspiration.

Dept recently completed a successful eight-week pitch phase for Netflix and was ultimately selected as the future social lead agency. The next milestones are the development of the new Netflix content strategy for DACH, the set-up of production workflows for asset creation and the roll-out of campaigns across multiple markets and channels to take Netflix's social media presence to the next level.

"Netflix is a world-class entertainment provider with an unrivaled understanding of their audience - an incredibly powerful combination for social media and a dream client for an agency," says Tobias Cummins, Managing Director at Dept Berlin. "As a digital-first agency, it's a great opportunity for us to work with such an iconic brand. We successfully demonstrated in the pitch phase that we can take their social media campaigns to new heights and we are ready for the challenge."

Dept has developed social media campaigns for some of the world's biggest brands, including Twitch, Samsung, Just Eat Takeaway (Lieferando) and eBay.

Transa was looking for a long-term partner to support the company in the development of the new e-commerce platform on a strategic, conceptual and technical level. The central requirements here were the linking of content and commerce. Based on a new content strategy, Transa wanted a scalable and user-friendly CMS and a new visual identity that would match the brand's identity.

The pitch win was based on a strategic approach that adopted the USP of brick-and-mortar retail as the common thread for Transa's web solution. The goal was to seamlessly transfer the advice and expertise of the employees in the stores to the digital platform and to meet the customers online just as well as in the stores. At the same time, the platform was to inspire with new outdoor visions and educate and inform with broad product knowledge.

In the pitch, Dept presented ideas and features that stringently reflected this vision. The strategic approach, the structure of the new platform and the implementation ideas convinced Transa. Dept also scored in other aspects: The Dept team proved that it understands Transa's values and identity and operates on the same wavelength. The design, which is fresh, reduced and yet approachable, as well as Dept's approaches to developing the content strategy also coincided with Transa's expectations. The chemistry was also right between the two teams.

The implementation is agile and includes the visual conception, UX & UI design, the development of a content strategy as well as the technical conception and implementation. The technical implementation is based on the MACH approach with Dato as the headless CMS. "We developed a strategic approach that focuses on the authentic presentation of Transa's brand and identity while enabling a seamless connection between content and commerce," explains Yann Wanner, Head of New Business at Dept.