Wirecard Global Sales GmbH, Aschheim — Executive Vice President Global Corporate Marketing & Strategic Alliances, and Managing Director of Wirecard Communications GmbH, 2006–2020. Direct reporting line to the CEO and supervisory board; annual budget responsibility of EUR 11 million and leadership of more than 500 FTE across two divisions.
Michael Brinkmann joined Wirecard in 2006 and assumed global responsibility for marketing, sales, and business development at one of the world's fastest-growing providers of electronic payment processing solutions. Over 14 years, he played a central role in the company's exponential growth trajectory, prepared the DAX listing for early 2019, and led two direct business units — Corporate Marketing and Strategic Alliances — while additionally serving as Managing Director of Wirecard Communications GmbH.
In the area of strategic alliances, Michael Brinkmann built a cross-industry partnership network spanning Google, SAP, IBM, Oracle, Amadeus, Samsung, and Microsoft. He established several joint ventures, including a highly successful airline ticket distribution system developed in collaboration with Amadeus. Across all engagements, he consistently delivered against agreed KPIs in EBITDA, transaction volume, and partner qualification.
On the marketing side, Michael Brinkmann led a fully integrated global strategy spanning SEO/SEM, social media, mobile, and direct and indirect campaign programs. Under his leadership, a comprehensive corporate rebranding was initiated and executed, delivering measurable improvements in brand awareness and organic search performance. The Wirecard group collapsed in 2020 following the disclosure of one of the largest accounting scandals in German corporate history. Wirecard Global Sales GmbH was dissolved in August 2020.