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Wincor Nixdorf's new U.S. CEO says retail will grow for company

December 14, 2008

This year will mark the first Wincor World for U.S. chief executive Patrick Wright.

Wright, who joined Wincor Nixdorf in Augustand has already taken steps to help build its strength with retailers by hosting in September a retail symposium in New York City, is aiming expectations high for the U.S. market.

(Interview with Patrick Wright at BAI Retail Delivery 2008)

A former executive at JPMorgan Chase & Co., Wright brings a strong a banking background to Wincor Nixdorf and argues that his tilt toward banking will not hinder his ability to manage retail growth, which the company has for the last several years struggled to make a stronger corporate force.

Online bank ING exemplifies the retail-like approach to banking that Wincor Nixdorf wants to develop. At this cafÃ© branch in New York, ING customers are served coffee by bank-services consultants who explain ING's services and refer them to online work stations for account access. (Banks: See more)

"There is quite a bit I can bring to the company overall," Wright told ATM Marketplace in October. "I have a good understanding of cash and cash handling, and lot of banks in the United States have already started considering their branches more like stores than traditional 'branches,' so I've been thinking about retail for a long time. So many of the issues that are faced by banks are also faced by retailers, and we are across the board helping them solve their cash-management issues."

Eckard Heidloff, Wincor Nixdorf AG's corporate chief executive, says he wants to see leadership in the United States bring the retail and banking industries together.

"We are working with large banks and small banks and retailers in the U.S.," Heidloff said. "We are working with them all, and this is important. We are focusing on growth, step-by-step, organically, in North America, Eastern Europe, Asia, and we believe that with our technology we can develop very effective solutions that meet the needs of all the markets we serve and all of the industries we are focused on."