Curriculum Vita
Tim Cole
1950
I was born April 2 at Moses Lake, Washington, sun of an Air Force
Chaplain and a German mother. My parents met in Germany at the end of World
War II and were married in Oklahoma City in 1947.
until 1961
As a kid I led the typical life of an "Air Force brat", being shuttled
around the country following Dad's various assignments in Fairbanks, Alaska,
Plainfield, New Jersey, San Antonio, Texas, San Bernardino, California,
Great Falls, Montana, and Spokane, Washington.
1961
After moving to Schwetzingen, Germany, I went to primary and secondary
schools
1968
During a short visit to the United States, I graduated from
Central Union High School in El Centro, California.
1969
A an aprentice reporter, I worked for the daily newspaper "Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung"
in Heidelberg, while attending evening classes at University of Maryland,
European Division.
1971
I became a local reporter for the "Stuttgarter Nachrichten", while
continuing my studies at U.of M.
1974
Associate in Arts ("summa cum laude")
1974
Reporter for "Bild-Zeitung", Germany largest daily.
1976
Joined the editorial staff of "auto motor und sport".
1978
Text editor of "AUDIO - das Hifi-Magazin"
1979
Managing Editor of "stereoplay" (German edition of the Italian
magazine published by Editione Suono in Rome).
1980
Went free-lance, working for such customers as Playboy Magazine,
Diners Club Magazin, Der Feinschmecker, High-Tech.
Authored a number of books about cocktails and barkeeping
for Gräfe & Unzer in Munich; some 300.000 copies of "Summerdrinks"
have been sold.
1981
Winner of the Rallye Monte Carlo Return in a Morgan 4/4.
1985
Married Gabi Kneisl, a native of
Sölden, a skiing center in the Oetztal Valley of Tyrol. Our daughter Valerie
was born in October.
1988
Received the journalism prize "Golden Napkin" sponsored by Möwenpick
for an article on oysters in Diners Club Magazin.
1989
Together with 2 partners I founded CDS Verlag and developed the
concept for an magazine entitled "Reisemobil International" dealing with
motorhomes.
1992
Editor in Chief of Zounds! - a popular music magazine published
by Motor-Presse Stuttgart.
1992
Became head of the Multimedia Group at Motor-Presse Stuttgart,
responsible for the magazines "Video", "Videoaktiv" und "connect" ( a popular
telecommunications magazine). I reported directly to the CEO. Besides
launching "connect", my job also included developing new concepts
for multimedia publishing and online communications as well as setting
up a multimedias testing laboratory for the Group. Extended fact-finding
trips to the U.S. and Japan.
1995
Moved with the familiy to Munich, where I resumed working as a free-lance journalist
working for a number of popular and speical-interest weekly and monthly
magazines.
1996
I founded and edited "Internet
Report", the first German-language newsletter for the online industry. I also commenced publication of "Internet Praxis", a part-work book published intitally by Neue Mediengesellschaft Ulm, which sold the publication rights to Weka-Verlag in Augsburg.
1997
I was asked to take over the job of Editor of NET-Investor, the leading German Internet business magazine, a position I held until June of 1999.
1998
Demand increased for my services as a public speaker and as host for seminars and company gathering all over Germany and in many parts of Europe. My specific areas of interest are Internet business, the development of e-commerce and the ramifications of Internet technology on banks and financial services. My clients include Deutsche Bank, Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe (German savings and loan banks), Daimler-Chrysler, Oracle, SAP, Siemens-Nixdorf, Pioneer Electronics and Canon, as well as industry associations such as BVIT (German Association of Information Technology Manufacturers), Bayerische Genossenschaftsverband (Association of Bavarian Cooperative Banks), Institute for International Rearch, and many others.
1999
"Erfolgsfaktor Internet" ("Success Factor
Internet") published in February by Econ, went through three editions in six
weeks and briefly reached the Bestseller List of the German newsmagazine
"Focus".
At CeBIT, I hosted the TV
talkshow "eTalk" for the CNN affiliate n-tv. "eTalk" was
sponsored by UUNET/WorldCom and continues to be a regular media event at the
world's largest computer show every spring at Hanover.
In October,
"Managementaufgabe Sicherheit" ("Management Task Security")
was published by Carl Hanser
2000
In April I became a "META
Group Fellow", giving me access to one of the leading analyst groups in
the world.
Some weeks later, my
latest book, "Das Kunden Kartell" ("The Customer Cartell"),
reaches the shelves, again published by Carl Hanser in Munich.
In
autumn, I crowned my young golfing career by winning the Bavarian Press Open Jura
GolfPark Hilzhofen
2001
In
July the family moved from Munich to Heidelberg, where we live in a 350 year-old
half-timbered house partial built from the rubble of a 14th century monestary
("Michaelibasilika") destroyed during the 30 Years War.
2002
In addition to publishing and
public speaking, I have expanded into media training and web consulting as well
as acting as moderator at major events such as Telecom Summit, as well as at
analyst briefings for clients from various fields of technology such as Siemens
ICN EN and Benteler Automotive. In a continuing shift of focus, I often use the
term "BizTech" to describe my increasing interest in the relationship
between business and technology.
2003
In 2003, my friend and colleague
Martin Kuppinger and I became increasingly fascinated by the concept of digital
identity and identity management. Everywhere in the digital world, it seems, the
question of "who's on the other end" crops up - and remains unsolved.
We decided to form Kuppinger Cole +
Partner in order to provide manufacturers and vendors with analyst insight
into the major issues in such diverse fields as access, IT security,
provisioning, identity federation, phishing, egovernment and RFID. Business, I'm
happy to say, is booming.
2004
In January, we moved back to
Munich, where I continue to spend my time writing, giving speeches, doing
consulting and training work. In June I finished writing "Technik verkaufen"
- a "how-to" book for techies telling them why other people don't
understand them and which skills they need to develop in order to be successful
in a world full of non-technical customers, bosses, colleagues, etc. It was
published later that year by Business
Village Verlag in Göttingen. In addition to my public speaking, I have
branched out into full-scale training. Through my website www.new-media-training.de
I conduct courses for companies and technical academies on a range of topics
such as "Selling Technology" and - since I'm an American and know my
compatriots - a very successful course called "Meetings With
Americans". I also am increasing demand by companies and PR agencies to
conduct media and camera trainings. And in October I finally realized a
life-long dream by completing the full 42 kilometers run at the Munich
Marathon.
2005
In the little spare time I have
I am busy running up and down the banks of the Isar river in order to get in
training for the Berlin Marathon in
September.
Contact: tim@cole.de
