By Simon Ward 

There has been a change at the helm of Octagon Germany, the country arm of the international sports and entertainment marketing agency, with Karsten Petry stepping down as managing director after three years in the role.

Octagon said his departure was by mutual agreement.

Petry (pictured) has been succeeded by long-serving Octagon executive Dennis Trautwein who is returning to Europe from Japan, and will also head up the France business.

Octagon Germany now employs 30 staff across offices in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich, and has worked for prominent sponsors including Porsche, Hyundai, Ferrero and Siemens.

In a statement to Sportcal, Jeff Meeson, managing director, Octagon Europe said: “Octagon and Karsten have mutually agreed to part ways. We wish him well. Dennis Trautwein has joined Octagon’s European leadership team and now serves as managing director, Octagon Germany. 

“Dennis' tenure with Octagon, as well as his great insight and experience, positions us well for the future.”

Petry joined Octagon in August 2017 from German sponsorship agency akzio!, by then a subsidiary of Lagardère Sports and Entertainment (now Sportfive) where he had served as director consulting for three and a half years.

It was his second spell at akzio!, sandwiched by a five-year stint as head of corporate sponsoring at Commerzbank. Petry had started his career at another agency in Infront Sports Germany.

Trautwein joined Octagon in 2007, and has held various executive roles, most recently agency director in Japan, based in Tokyo.

Prior to taking up that position in March 2019, he was an established member of the management team of Octagon Germany, becoming a vice-president in October 2017.

An interview with Rick Dudley, chairman and chief executive, Octagon Sports and Entertainment Network, will appear in the next issue of the Sportcal Insight digital magazine, out at the end of this month. 

Sportcal