Paul Drux: From Handball Legend to Füchse Berlin’s Future CEO

Berlin – Paul Drux, a Füchse Berlin legend, is embarking on a new chapter after a decorated handball career cut short by injury. The 31-year-old, who captained the team to seven national and international titles and earned 127 caps for the German national team, including an Olympic bronze medal, is now preparing to take the reins at the club in the future, but first, he’s getting a crash course in business leadership.

Effective June 1, 2025, Drux began a year-long traineeship with Kieback&Peter, Füchse Berlin’s main sponsor. The Berlin-based company, employing 1700 people across 50 locations, specializes in intelligent building management systems – integrating and controlling heating, ventilation, climate control, and fire protection. Notable projects include the Reichstag, the Cube Berlin, the Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg, and Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.

A Path to Leadership

Drux’s transition isn’t a sudden leap into the unknown. He completed his studies in Business Informatics and is now immersing himself in the inner workings of a major corporation. His goal: to succeed Bob Hanning, Füchse Berlin’s current Managing Director, in 2028. The plan, as outlined by Christoph Ritzkat, Kieback&Peter’s Managing Director, is to provide Drux with a comprehensive understanding of all facets of the business.

“Paul Drux is the first professional athlete we’ve trained here,” Ritzkat stated. “When Bob Hanning explained that Paul was being groomed as his successor, we decided, ‘Paul should get a feel for this.’ The Füchse want to be the most sustainable club in the world, and that aligns perfectly with us!”

Drux’s daily routine is a significant shift from the life of a professional athlete. He cycles an hour from Lichtenberg to Britz for work, starting at 6:30 AM, and spends his days rotating through six different departments. “Everything I learned in my studies, I can now put into practice here,” Drux explained. “What are the potential for improvement? How do sponsors think? What is our motivation? How do banks operate? How is financing structured? What are the proper business etiquette?”

His initial stint in the Marketing department yielded immediate results. Drux conceived the idea of distributing 8500 green t-shirts, branded with the Kieback&Peter logo, to fans at a Füchse Berlin match against Kiel on November 15, 2025. The resulting sea of green in the Max-Schmeling-Halle was a striking visual spectacle, broadcast live on television, and the shirts remain a popular item among Füchse supporters – a testament to the power of sustainable branding.

Hanning’s Confidence in Drux

Drux has successfully navigated the Change/Marketing and Purchasing departments, and is currently in Controlling, with a final rotation in Human Resources to come. He will then join the Füchse Berlin management team in June, working closely with Hanning to further refine his skills and build relationships with key partners.

Hanning has been a vocal advocate for Drux as his successor, stating, “I can’t imagine anyone better than Paul. There’s no one comparable for this club.”

The Füchse Berlin are already planning for the future on the court, with French star Dika Mem (currently with Barcelona) and European champion Simon Pytlick (Flensburg-Handewitt) slated to join the team in 2027/28. Andreas Palicka, a veteran goalkeeper, will arrive in the upcoming season. Drux believes this blend of established talent and homegrown players will position the team for continued success.

“These players are something special in the Bundesliga,” Drux said. “And we will continue to focus on our philosophy of developing our own youth. With this mix, we have a promising opportunity to build a new generation that can compete for titles.” A new generation of players, and a new generation of leadership, are on the horizon for Füchse Berlin, with Paul Drux poised to lead the charge in 2028.