Guildhall School of Business and Law student profiles content store_hidden Evrim Tekes Our students and alumni

Evrim Tekes graduated in 2010 from London Met with a business and marketing degree. He is currently working for GROHE in Düsseldorf. GROHE is a leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings and has over 6,500 employees. The company is part of the LIXIL Group Corporation, and as an international brand, GROHE pursues brand values of technology, quality, design and sustainability, seeking to offer the “pure joy of water”.

We note that you are Head of Social Media for the EMENA region at GROHE – can you tell us more?

I'm in charge of the strategic marketing communications of social media across all platforms in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (EMENA), which also means that I'm overseeing the conceptual development of the company’s expansion. Developing strategies, leading agencies and bringing together 34 markets on one communication line are some of my other core duties.

However, the most important thing is to keep my team motivated and listen to their voices. That is crucial in daily work life, not only to keep up spirits, but to also to understand/trust each other. For me, it's also the key to getting projects going with clear goals and high aspirations, and making sure that nobody is left behind. 

What’s your typical day at work like?

My typical day starts with coffee and a small talk with my team. I think that's the best way to kick off a day. Every morning we have a meeting where we discuss the latest news and topics, what's happening in the world, what our competitors are doing and which trends we should pursue in the world of social media/digital content. When time allows, we have a team lunch and try something new outside. Furthermore, I'm an advocate of clear internal communications, which means I have set up weekly and bi-weekly meetings. I prefer these to harassing people with dozens of emails every day.

What led you to study at London Met?

I did my A levels in Germany back in 2006 and after that I did military service. My dad asked me what would happen next. I never thought about leaving Germany for studies, but he's the main force for why I eventually reached the UK. I think he saw something in me, some sort of potential and he wanted me to be more than just “the average” student in Germany. To this day I don’t regret that decision and I'm grateful for what he did. My journey started in Manchester where I attended a language school and did my IELTS in order to get accepted at London Met.

What was your favourite piece of equipment or spot at the Uni?

There are quite a lot actually. It may sound boring, but I really enjoyed the library. It offered a lot of space for work, many many books to read and in general the facility was really welcoming. Next to that I loved the sports hall. Many courses, great equipment and nice people to meet.

How did you find the lecturers at London Met?

We had a lot of lecturers who did an awesome job. The lectures were well structured and qualitative. I enjoyed strategy in action, business marketing and international business the most. Still to this day I apply some of the methods that I learned during my courses. 

What was the highlight for your course?

My absolute highlight was a project called strategy in action, where we were asked to do a documentary about a project of our choice. We chose Ben Sherman and analysed their strategy, such as the clicks and bricks dimension, the clientele, a cognitive map regarding competitors and much more. We bought some filming equipment and shot videos outside Oxford Street, King’s Cross St Pancras, Islington and more. It was like a documentary (BBC News style) in which we addressed these topics, interviewed pedestrians etc. We were really proud of that project. Our hard work, not only the filming but also the hours and hours of editing was eventually rewarded with the highest grade ever on that course: 92/100. 

Did you find it easy to make friends at London Met?

I actually have four or five mates still residing in London who I have regular contact with. They sometimes come to Cologne to visit me and vice versa. At the end of February, I'm going to London to visit one of them and I can’t wait to spend time over there.

Any words of wisdom for anyone thinking about studying at London Met?

I would like to quote Warren Buffet: “The more you learn, the more you earn”. For some, it refers to money, but for me it is more than just that. Knowledge is crucial. Have a good time with your mates, go out and do some activities but don’t neglect your studies. Make sure to take as much as possible from your mentors, your academic advisers, your lectures and share your knowledge with others.

Anything else you'd like to add?

I enjoyed my time at London Met a lot and can recommend the University to everybody.