We are very happy to have worked with you who has made a mark in digital world.

There is no doubt that your recent achievements as well as the further ones will be spoken of for some time to come and that the admiration for your accomplishments is felt by all of us as well as the general public.

Please accept Marjinal Porter Novelli’s heartiest wishes for your success in the future. We are hoping to be working with you again should a further project arise.

as a good friend, your first employee and ex Head of Corporate Sales for 2,5 years at Xing, which was still openBC at that time, I have to admit that I had mixed feelings about your stepping down as a CEO when I first heard the news.

While managing to build one of the most successful Web 2.0 companies in Europe during the last 5 years, you have also become a strong example to lead for so many European startup entrepreneurs. Personally I am very grateful that I could help you building an outstanding company, that has set the role model for many Internet startups to come. You taught me how to believe in yourself no matter what the future would bring. With your neverending entrepreneurial spirit you also helped me to understand, that anybody who truly believes in his idea can become a successful entrepreneur. So therefore I am a little sad, that XING now looses its founder as CEO.

On the other hand I am also happy for you, because the biggest achievement you can make as a great team leader is to step down and let somebody else take over the helm, while operations continue to run well. And I am fully confident that you have chosen your successor with reasonable care. Also as you stay as a major shareholder and member of the supervisory board of XING I am very positive that you will always be able to give good advice to the board.

I wish you all the very best for all your entrepreneurial ideas and projects and of course for your wonderful family and I am truly looking forward to stay in close touch.

Your friend,

Sarik