André, Head of Department App Development, Travel
André has been with CHECK24 in Leipzig for almost 10 years. He originally joined as Team Lead of the Android Team and is now Head of Department for App Development. In this interview, he gives us exciting insights into his daily work, talks about his career journey, and shares what software developers can look forward to at CHECK24 in Leipzig.
Hi André, please briefly introduce yourself.
André:
Hi, I’m André. I live with my family in Leipzig—just seven minutes from the office—and I enjoy cycling with my daughters when I want a break from the tech routine.
I’ve been at CHECK24 for almost 10 years now. I was one of the first app developers here in Leipzig—back when we really started focusing on mobile-first. Since then, my team and I have built the app step by step into what it is today. I now lead the software development department for the app, with a focus on package holidays. A lot has evolved in that area, and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together.
What exactly are your responsibilities as Head of Department App Development at CHECK24 Travel?
André:
I'm Head of Department for app development, with a clear focus on package holidays. But if there’s something app-related going on at other locations or in other teams, I’m happy to support there too.
Package holiday comparison has become extremely important for CHECK24, and the app plays a central role in that—more than half of all customer actions happen directly in the app.
I manage three teams—Android, iOS, and Backend/API—and ensure that our architecture is future-proof, that new features are released quickly, and that quality remains high. No crashes, no annoying bugs—that’s the goal.
A big part of my job is also building and developing the team. A strong team needs good people, clear communication, and support. Balancing speed and innovation on the one hand with stability on the other isn’t easy—but that’s exactly where I feel comfortable.
What can you tell us about your career at CHECK24 Travel?
André:
If you want to make an impact and are motivated, you can achieve a lot here—I realized that pretty quickly. I had prior experience in both large-scale environments and smaller startups, and I knew I wanted to lead a team. Mediating between stakeholders and developers was something I’d always enjoyed.
When I started at CHECK24, it quickly became clear to me that real leadership opportunities existed here. So, without having been a senior before, I was directly appointed team lead of the Android team. Today, I’m Head of Department for the entire app team. That wasn’t always easy—suddenly you’re in the team, beside the team, or even above the team? That’s not an easy question, and to be honest, I still don’t always have a clear answer.
What really helped was exchanging ideas with colleagues at other locations—everyone faces similar challenges. That shaped me, and I’m grateful I got the chance. Sure, performance and skills matter, but so do timing and a bit of luck—being in the right place at the right time.
What makes me especially happy: seeing new team members learn from the experienced ones. Right now, we have five dual computer science students here in Leipzig—one of them is currently writing their bachelor’s thesis with us. I think that’s great.
The best thing about CHECK24?
Working with a strong team where everyone really knows their stuff.
André, Head of Department App Development, Travel
What’s important to you when leading your team?
André:
It has to work both personally and professionally. Of course, we have high performance standards, but the individual shouldn’t get left behind.
That’s why two things are crucial to me: quality and teamwork. I want us to succeed together—that’s my biggest motivation.
What can a software developer look forward to at CHECK24 Travel?
André:
First and foremost, a strong team full of talented people. We expect a lot, but we also offer a lot: lunch five times a week (always with vegan/vegetarian options), a cereal bar, drinks, sports offers—and above all, an environment where you can simply focus on your work. No unnecessary distractions, just focus on what matters.
Team events are part of our culture—we love to celebrate our successes together, and you can feel that in our daily work.
And finally, tell us what your favorite technology is and why.
André:
Right now, I’m really hooked on Cursor AI. I use it to generate code everywhere—whether it’s Kotlin, Swift, or Go. Since I oversee many different codebases, it helps me a lot: I find out faster where and how something is implemented, and I’ve become much more efficient. It not only saves time, but it’s also just a lot of fun.