Working at HM Professorships HM OnBoard New Appointees Portraits

New & Appointed

Name: Roman Bechtel

Professor of: Human Resource Management, specialising in People Analytics, Performance Management and Compensation & Benefits at the department of Business Administration.

I’m from: I was born and brought up in Saarland; I’ve been living in Munich since 2005, although my professional life has been centred in Switzerland for the last seven years.

Previously, I worked as: After four years as a research assistant at Saarland University in Saarbrücken, I moved into the private sector almost 20 years ago. There, I initially worked as an HR manager in the semiconductor industry here in Munich, including at Infineon and Intel. Most recently, since 2016, I served as Vice President of HR Operations at Ascensia Diabetes Care in Basel, where I was responsible for the group-wide digital Transformation of the HR department as well as for payroll in over 35 countries.

My area of expertise in a word ...

(Graphics: HM Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences )

... and my motivation for teaching there:

Human Resources Management! I suppose I can describe myself as a ‘die-hard HR professional’: from my studies through to my doctorate, my professional experience in the private sector and now back in academia at the HM, I know theory and practice well enough that I hope to be able to pass on a great deal of knowledge.

Why choose HM?

Having already taught here as a lecturer for several years, I was already quite familiar with the HM ‘from the inside’. What’s more, the HM is one of the largest universities of applied sciences in Germany – and it’s in my adopted home town. There really wasn’t a more compelling alternative.

My highlight of the year

Between my old job and starting here, my wife and I went on a four-week tour of Europe – a ‘road trip’. It was a wonderful way to bring a chapter of my life to a close and look forward to the new one: and so, on 1 September, I started here at HM with great enthusiasm. This new chapter couldn’t have got off to a better start.

My leisure tip

(Graphics: HM Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences )

Have you been to the Otto exhibition at the Buchheim Museum in Bernried? If not, you’ve missed out. I thought it was great fun. It’s just come to an end, mind you, but I’m sure it’ll pop up elsewhere from time to time.


Other than that, I’ve just come across another book by Isaac Asimov: I think it’s a good time to take a closer look at his Laws of Robotics. Remarkably relevant, perhaps a bit unsettling, but definitely fascinating!

The ‘New & Appointed’ series introduces newly appointed Professors at the HM and provides insights into their backgrounds, areas of expertise and motivations. Each profile concludes with a personal leisure tip for the HM community.