Life at Winoa: Meet Adnan Hannou


Employee Stories, Career Paths & Industrial Excellence

At Winoa, people are at the heart of our industrial performance and global success. Through this series of employee interviews, we invite you to discover the diverse career paths, inspiring journeys, and professional growth opportunities that shape life inside our international company.

From women and men thriving in industry to experienced team members who have grown through internal promotion and career mobility, from employees who have taken their expertise abroad to support our global operations to young talents leading strategic projects in e-commerce, peening, and aftermarket services, these stories reflect the strength and diversity of our teams.

Career journey

From internship to financial controller

Question : Can you walk me through your journey at Winoa, from joining the Group to your current role in Germany?

Adnan Hannou : I joined Winoa in January 2020 as an intern for six months. After my internship, I continued with the company through a one-year apprenticeship, from August 2020 to September 2021.

I then continued my career with Winoa in France before taking on an opportunity in Germany. I moved to Frankfurt, where I am now working as Financial Controller for Winoa Deutschland.

Looking back, it has been a great journey, with several different experiences and opportunities to grow within the Group.

International mobility

Building a aareer across borders

Question : You decided to study in another country and have worked in two different countries with different cultures. What motivated you to take on these international mobility opportunities?

Adnan Hannou : I am originally from Morocco, where I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Economics. I then decided to move to France to pursue my Master’s degree. For me, moving to France was an opportunity to gain greater international recognition through my studies and to develop my experience in a European environment.

During my apprenticeship at Winoa, the company also supported my development by financing my studies at INSEEC Business School, which was a great opportunity.

Later, I decided to move to Germany, and Frankfurt was a particularly attractive destination because it is such an international city, with many professional opportunities and people from different backgrounds.

Support and relocation

Moving abroad: challenges and support from Winoa

Question : What were the biggest challenges of moving across countries, and how did Winoa support you through them?

Adnan Hannou : Moving to Frankfurt came with some practical challenges, especially finding accommodation as a non-EU citizen and managing all the administrative and visa procedures.

Winoa supported me throughout the process. A local company in Munich handled the visa procedures, supported me with the move and helped me with the registration process. Winoa also covered the associated costs.

Once I arrived in Germany, Winoa Deutschland also supported me by providing German language classes.

Having this support made the transition much easier and allowed me to focus on settling into my new environment and my new role.

Cultural differences

Learning from different cultures and ways of working

Question : How did these international experiences contribute to your professional and personal growth?

Adnan Hannou : Coming from Morocco, I was used to a different style of communication between managers and employees. Working in France and Germany exposed me to different ways of working and interacting with colleagues.

For example, communication in Germany tends to be more direct, while the approach can be different in France. Experiencing these different working cultures has taught me how to adapt my communication and better understand different perspectives.

It has also helped me deal with cultural differences and potential culture clashes, not only professionally but also in my personal life.

Overall, working in different countries has made me more adaptable and open-minded.

Taking on responsibilities

Growing through new challenges with the support of the Group

Question : How would you describe Winoa’s mindset when it comes to change and adaptability?

Adnan Hannou : I would describe Winoa as a supportive environment where people are encouraged to take on new responsibilities and make decisions.

I experienced this particularly in Germany. When the local Financial Controller was no longer able to continue in the role, I took on additional responsibilities. It was a significant challenge, but I received a lot of support from the Group Controlling team, the French Accounting team and colleagues involved in the M3 project.

The management team in Germany was also very supportive.

For me, this is an important part of Winoa’s culture: you can take on challenges and responsibilities, but you know that you are not alone. There are always people you can rely on and learn from.

You have a safety net within the Group.

Advice for mobility

Stepping outside your comfort zone

Question : What advice would you give to someone at Winoa who is considering an international move?

Adnan Hannou : I would definitely encourage them to take the opportunity. International mobility gives you the chance to become more independent, make new experiences and discover different ways of working and living. You move from a more monocultural environment to a multicultural one, and you are exposed to people with very different backgrounds and perspectives. You also meet people from all over the world and can build friendships and relationships that you might never have had otherwise.

My advice would be: be open, be curious and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone.

Winoa opportunities

International Collaboration within the Group

Question : How does Winoa make internal mobility a real and accessible opportunity?

Adnan Hannou : I think it comes from the fact that Winoa operates as one international Group.

Many projects involve colleagues from different countries and entities. They are not necessarily managed by people from just one country or one region. This creates opportunities to collaborate with colleagues from different parts of the Group and to gain international exposure.

Of course, it depends on the position and the opportunities available, but the Group approach creates a good environment for mobility. When you work on an international project, you are not only working with people from France, for example. You can work with colleagues from Germany, other European countries or different regions around the world. That international collaboration can open doors to new experiences and, potentially, new career opportunities.