Grüneke was born in 1963; he studied business economics in Wuppertal and holds an M.B.A. in Birmingham, UK. Having worked for various holding companies and subsidiaries of major corporations in Germany as well as management consultancies, he can draw on 15 years of experience. He worked in different industries from the media industry to the financial industry as well as for wholesalers and retailers specialising in commercial and strategic management. At Celesio AG he was director of international controlling, coporate strategy and corporate communication in the pharma industry before he became CFO of stock-listed ALBIS Leasing AG. Grüneke learned the ropes of the film- and TV industry at Bertelsmann AG. After assisting the management board he was the Head of Finance + Business Affairs of the Bertelsmann film production subsidiary Trebitsch.