Meet the Expert: Anja Hohenacker,  Director Customer Organization - Europe

She’s a mom, a distance runner, an avid traveler, and is extremely passionate about being a trusted partner in helping businesses navigate the unique complexities of market data management.  

Tell us a bit about your current role:

I’ve transitioned from managing director of sales to a newly created role as customer success manager for Europe. I orchestrate TRG Screen resources to enable our clients’ success and to ensure they’re getting an outstanding client experience in all touchpoints with us and maximum value from our solutions each day.  

What aspect of your role has the greatest impact on clients and/or the industry?

I understand our clients and their needs firsthand because I’ve been in their shoes. I’m deeply connected to the community and care about the outcomes my fellow professionals are able to achieve. This role allows me to create an even more consistent experience for them and to shape our next-generation client experience. This is a very people-oriented business where relationships and trust are supremely important, and now more than ever I can take them by the hand on their journey to managing market data more strategically.  

What excites you most about the future of market data management?  

I’ve seen so much change in the industry. We co-founded the DKF conference series 15 years ago to nourish the market by providing niche, trustworthy information to market data management experts, and I’m very excited to see that continue to grow across Europe. Also, we can all agree that getting useful data about your market and reference data spending and usage remains a black box. Businesses must be able to illuminate that black box in order to manage effectively. I’m excited about how we’ve advanced our technology to demystify that for clients, and to see how far we’ll take it in the future. 

What advice would you give a business looking to improve their ability to manage market and reference data usage and spending? 

It’s a market with monopoly structures and it's a challenge to manage that reality. The market has changed so much in recent decades, and even the most savvy market data buyers need a trusted partner to help them navigate. I believe you can no longer just manage invoices and contracts. You also have to manage usage and think holistically about this entire expense category.

"As a marathon runner, I often say market data and marathon running are very similar: your training is never finished, and it’s best done with a partner you trust and who pushes you outside your comfort zone."

What’s one thing people might never guess about you?  

I’m petite, I’m skinny and I’m blonde, and my son often tells me people don’t expect me to be such a big firecracker in such a tiny package. People can tend to underestimate me because of my appearance, and it can be fun to challenge their initial assumptions in a positive way. On a more personal note, I lost my husband and parents in a span of only three years. I realized I needed to reinvent myself. One of the most profound choices I made was to adopt a son from Ethiopia. And while he hails from Africa, and we have Africa in our hearts every day, it surprises people to hear I’ve never visited. Africa (and especially Ethiopia) is definitely on my bucket list in the near future!  

How do you enjoy spending time outside of work?  

I’m a longtime runner and completed three marathons in recent years. I’m currently training for 2025, and I love having running partners who help to keep me motivated for early morning runs—especially when it’s cold and dark outside. I also love spending time with friends and traveling and do both as often as I can.