Chris Herrmann is a specialist in taking niche products to market. His expertise covers a full range of business skills from company start up to developing a team of people, marketing, sales, financial, management and product development and support.
An award-winning entrepreneur, Chris is the founding Managing Director of InfoTec Communications, a company that has been the commercialising vehicle for a number of innovative niche market information technology products.
In 1996, InfoTec introduced an Australian first information product for the real estate market. This was followed by several data search and enquiry management products. One of these was the popular ‘My booking Manager’ online event registration and payment management product.
With a track record of national and international clients, including some of Australia’s top four banks and Australia’s largest airlines, USA based Symantec Incorporation and Qantas Vacations, Chris’ success has been recognised with several Australian Government Small Business, Entrepreneurial and Innovation Awards.
Chris has extensive leadership and management skills having managed small enterprising teams to large corporate departments, and understands the demands of customer service.
In doing so, he draws on a broad range of international experience having also worked and lived in the Middle East and North America.
Chris was an advisor to the Saudi Telecom management team in Saudi Arabian and was also recruited as a Project Manager to start and head up a Department in a North America based multinational cellular mobile telephony company for the USA and Canadian markets.
Having successfully obtained Government grant funding for two key projects, he understands the rigorous requirements for securing public funding.
His knowledge of marketing and sales fundamentals has seen him apply these skills from negotiating his way from first contact with a corporate call centre to securing major contracts with some of Australia’s top listed companies.
In recognition of his knowledge and experience in commercialising information technology products, Chris was invited to present to students at the Yunnan University in the Chinese city of Kunming. He has also been invited to be part of a UK Trade Mission sponsored by the UK Trade & Investment British Consulate-General
As a member of the Business Development Council of South Australia since 2006, Chris is one of twelve Members appointed to advise the Minister for Small Business on matters relating to the SA business community. He is also a member of the Business Development Council's Small Business Economy sub-committee.
Chris is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and a Graduate of the AICD Company Directors' Course. He also holds an Advanced Diploma of Electronics and Communications.
As part of his on-going professional development, Chris has undertaken a broad range of intensive marketing, sales, internet marketing, entrepreneurial and business development programs. These include the National Enterprise Workshop Program; the FastTrac Entrepreneurial Business Development Program, and the TechMentor program.