#A conversation with the management: two perspectives, one goal
GTM has a new dual leadership since April 1, 2025. With Marcel Richter and Paul Zolnierek as Managing Directors, two personalities are at the helm who bring both commercial foresight and technical excellence to the table. In an interview with Martina Orasmaa, Marketing Manager at GTM, both give exciting insights into their roles, their motivation - and also reveal some personal details.
There are two new faces at the top, and the roles are clearly defined
Martina: Let's take a look back and do a quick fact check. When did you find your way to GTM?
Paul: I joined the company in February 2023.
Marcel: I joined in January 2021.
Martina: You've taken over the management of GTM together April 1st, 2025. What are your specific tasks?
Paul: I am the Technical Managing Director. This includes the development departments for sensors and machines, as well as production and our own calibration laboratory. The great thing is that almost everything comes together in my area of responsibility, from the initial idea brought to us by product management in development to the finished product.
Marcel: I am the Commercial Director, responsible for Finance, Controlling, Customer Success, Product Management, Marketing, Human Resources and Quality Management. I focus on ensuring economic stability, facilitating sustainable growth, and developing GTM's strategic direction with the team.
Martina: Wow, that's quite a lot! Your roles complement each other perfectly, showcasing the expertise of GTM's management team. With such a wide range of topics, it's clear that strong teams help shape each area with expertise and commitment.
A little insight into motivation
Martina: With such strong teams and exciting areas of responsibility behind you, the question arises: What motivates you personally in your roles, and what do you find particularly exciting about your tasks? Paul, would you like to answer first?
Paul: GTM offers an incredibly diverse range of tasks. From high-precision transducers in the Newton range to measuring systems in the meganewton range, it never gets boring. You need a team of real experts who are as passionate about precision as I am. As an engineer, I dedicate myself fully to development. As Managing Director, I am excited to help shape GTM and achieve ambitious goals together.
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Martina: Marcel, what about you? What do you find special about measurement technology and your role?
Marcel: I'm fascinated by how measurement technology forms the basis for quality and progress in so many industries. It's usually not directly visible, yet it's a core element. Precise measurements enable innovation. I particularly appreciate the versatility of my role and collaborating with different teams. No two days are the same, and I can take ownership of my work.
Martina: You can clearly feel how passionate you two are about measurement technology and how important a focus on precision is to you and that it's a core at GTM. It is precisely this passion that drives the company forward.
Challenges as Opportunities
Martina: The role of a managing director certainly comes with a number of challenges. Which ones appeal to you the most?
Paul: GTM is at the cutting edge of technology in many areas. When you try to tease out the last ppm (parts per million), you encounter complex issues—that's exactly my thing. I also enjoy orchestrating all of this with an entrepreneurial perspective, viewing a company as a finely tuned system.
Marcel: I find it exciting to guide GTM through challenging market phases and recognize new opportunities in the process. The balance between innovation, commercial responsibility, and team leadership challenges me daily, and I enjoy it.
Martina: Market phases and entrepreneurial challenges demand a lot of commitment, but they also offer the opportunity to achieve successes you can be proud of. Marcel, are there any successes that make you particularly proud?
Marcel: Together with the team, we set an important course for the future, such as digitizing internal processes and expanding our market position. I'm proud of that, as well as the strong team spirit, especially during challenging times.
Looking ahead
Martina: Let's take a look into the future. What is your vision for GTM?
Marcel: I want GTM to continue being perceived as an innovation leader in measurement technology and to inspire our customers with our precision and reliability.
Paul: GTM is and will remain a company where specialists fulfill customer needs that others cannot. Combined with international growth and a strong product portfolio, this is my vision for the coming years.
Marcel: I would add that GTM should stand for quality, innovation, and partnership-based cooperation worldwide.
Martina: Thank you both. That sounds very promising, especially from a customer perspective.
Personal and precise.
Martina: Now, let's get a little less business and a little more personal. Do you have a favorite GTM product?
Paul: I wouldn't say that one sensor is better than the others — they all have their qualities. But if I had to name one, it would be the MKA series. These multi-component transducers measure up to three forces and three torques simultaneously. Customers often tell us that after implementing our sensors it's the first time they've truly understood their system.
Martina: This clearly speaks to the strength of our MKAs and holds great potential for the future. Hopefully, more customers will want to understand their systems better. Marcel, what is your favorite product?
Marcel: My favorite is the Series K force transducer. To me, it represents precision, robustness, and excellent engineering — in other words, exactly what GTM stands for.
Martina: That's a good bridge to my next question. What does our slogan, "Defining Precision," mean to you personally?
Paul: I would start with the opposite. A lack of precision leads to errors, whether in measurement or communication. Precision means effectiveness and efficiency. That's why it's so important to me.
Marcel: For me, precision means focusing on what really matters. At work and in everyday life. It is the basis for trust and quality.
Martina: Now, tell us something that hardly anyone knows about you.
Paul: Only if it stays between us. 😉 My work at GTM finally gave me access to materials science. During my studies, it was like black magic to me — now everything suddenly makes sense.
Marcel: I discovered my passion for horses in recent years. They ground me and challenge me anew every day. That also helps in my professional life.
Martina: Thank you both for the conversation! You can tell: at GTM, technological excellence meets personal passion. This makes the new dual leadership a real asset for the future.