In the summer, many people from the surrounding area come to take a refreshing dip in the Bichelsee lake. And, throughout the year, it’s the starting point for a wonderful circular hike as well as numerous shorter walks. Bichelsee is about 45 minutes by car from the Otto Hofstetter AG headquarters in Uznach. The natural lake is surrounded by gentle, wooded hills and lush meadows. Here, we meet Aristoteles Kontothanassis, Otto Hofstetter AG’s team leader of the PET engineering.
What makes this spot so attractive for you?
As my name suggests, I am not Swiss by birth. We moved from Germany almost 15 years ago and settled in a village near here. The picturesque shore, peaceful water, secluded forests and delightful meadows make the Bichelsee the ideal place for us. What’s more, we have four dogs that need a lot of exercise, which is why we’re happy to come here often, regardless of the weather. If life took me to another location, I would always return to the Bichelsee in my thoughts.
What breed are your dogs?
Three are sled dogs and one is a mixed breed that I picked up on the street in Greece and nursed back to health. They want to be challenged, which is why I go sledding with them. In winter we go out in the snow as often as time permits, and we also take part in some sled dog races. That’s one big benefit of living here in Switzerland. Within an hour’s drive, there are plenty of opportunities to pursue our passion: working with the dogs. And if the winter is too mild here, we go to Sweden.
How important is the peace and harmony of the Bichelsee lake for you?
Today everyone’s life is very fast-moving, and we live in a state of constant overstimulation. The smartphone is our constant companion, always keeping us on our toes. In order to find a healthy balance, I consider it very important to distance myself from all of that sometimes, to switch off and not have to think about anything beyond my immediate surroundings. It was only in Switzerland that I discovered that nature could give me this kind of breather. Today, the chirping birds, the murmuring stream and the rustling of the trees are the best way for me to re-energise myself. That’s why I’m deliberately try not to be available when I’m out with the dogs.
How much peace do you find in your job?
If I want peace and quiet, I call it a day or take a vacation. No, seriously: I don’t need peace at work. I like it when there is a lot going on. Thanks to my great team, where everyone can rely on everyone else, we can master every workload. Like every team leader, I do have tasks that require quiet focus and I reserve the early morning hours for this kind of work, or I add an hour after the working day ends. Otto Hofstetter AG also offers the opportunity to work from home, which I use from time to time.
Aristoteles Kontothanassis
Engineering Manager PET in Uznach, which also includes the specialists from Otto Hofstetter Luxemburg SA. When he’s not working, he devotes his energies to his sled dogs, who need a lot of exercise.
You are the head of PET engineering. Do you see any parallels between your hobby as a dog sled driver and your role as a team leader?
Oh, that list is very long, so I’ll focus on what I think are the strongest points. The distribution of roles is crucial for the proper functioning of any team. Each team member has a role that they can identify with and which corresponds to their skills. It’s very important that the supposedly “weakest” link is also given a meaningful task. The oil that greases the wheels of a well-functioning team is open and transparent communication. Another parallel with the dogs concerns non-verbal communication. On some level, my human team responds to my moods and attitudes as do the dogs. If I am committed, engaged and in a positive mood, my colleagues are too. If the opposite is the case, they also sense it.
Your team also includes colleagues in Luxembourg. How does long-distance leadership work?
In the first two years, we laid the foundation for what we are today: a solid team of specialists, where it doesn’t matter who works where. When our colleagues from Luxembourg joined us in November 2017, I drove there once a week. They were already a well-established team back then and everyone knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses. My job was to integrate them into our organisation and to inergrate them into our processes. When I see today how naturally the team members work together across locations, the integration appears to have been completed successfully. Covid certainly also played a part in this team-building process, as we all had to adjust to virtual meetings.
Where do you see the strengths of Otto Hofstetter AG?
Before I came to Otto Hofstetter AG, I was employed by a large company. The employees there were numbers and had an annual discussion with their managers where they were listened to. At Otto Hofstetter AG, management’s doors are always open. Even with the company’s owner, Otto Hofstetter, no one who comes to him with a request or an idea is turned away. This kind of corporate culture also means that decision-making processes are very short and flexible. The processes are similarly undogmatic. In most companies there is no leeway in the group, but here in Uznach we enjoy considerable freedom. As long as it’s in the interest of the customer and the renowned quality of Otto Hofstetter is guaranteed, a team can take an alternative path to achieve its goals.
Where do you see potential for improvement?
We are very well equipped within the individual departments. Communication within the teams is also usually excellent. In my opinion, where we do have potential for optimisation is in cross-departmental interfaces, where communication occasionally falters, usually because responsibilities have not been clearly defined. However, thanks to the lean and transparent organisational structure, these hiccups are quickly resolved.
Your name suggests Greek roots. To what extent is this assumption correct?
Even though I was born and raised in Germany, Greece is my home, and I’m always drawn back there. We agreed in the family and the plan is in place. Sometime in the foreseeable future we will be moving “home”.
How does the Greek mentality differ from the Swiss mentality?
Greeks are happy people. And they are loud. My colleagues in construction can tell you a little bit about that. If I’m on the phone or talking to someone, everyone in the open-plan office can hear it. Sometimes they ask me to speak a little more quietly. But I can’t help it. That’s my nature. We Greeks are also more emotional than the Swiss, and at the same time, we take many things more lightly. We also have different definitions of punctuality. In Greece, anyone who arrives at a meeting a minute after the appointed time is most likely to be the first. In Switzerland you are simply late.
Would you be happy if Otto Hofstetter AG were a little more Greek?
No, that company would no longer be Otto Hofstetter AG. We stand for quality, punctuality and precision. Because we are so typically Swiss in these important areas, our products and services enjoy an excellent reputation around the world. As a Greek, I can say that Swiss quality and Greek mentality are mutually exclusive. Or can you name any high-tech products from Greece that are as well known around the world as the moulds from Otto Hofstetter AG?
Why is it that Swiss quality is so famous?
Swiss companies – or at least those that take their origins seriously – pay meticulous attention to every detail. Breaking an edge of metal creates two new sharp edges. At Otto Hofstetter AG, these edges are processed again so that irregularities can no longer be felt. This thoroughness and this care down to the smallest detail are what define the justly famous Swiss quality.
What distinguishes Otto Hofstetter AG as an employer?
In addition to the factors I mentioned earlier, employee loyalty is a clear indication of the answer. In a company where 20 or more years of service are not uncommon, there must be a climate of appreciation, sincerity and openness. I feel completely respected here, and I know I can count on the support I would get from my superiors if I ever needed it. At Otto Hofstetter AG you are not just a human resource. You are first and foremost a human being and part of a team.
Where are you headed with Otto Hofstetter AG?
Otto Hofstetter AG and its subsidiary Otto Systems are growing. The next generation of the family is ready to develop the legacy of grandfather and father. I am convinced that the values that have made the company successful over the years will be maintained and reinforced by the successors. This means that performance in terms of innovation and quality will remain at the highest level. I would love to return to Uznach a few years after my return to Greece and see how Otto Hofstetter AG has further developed.
Thank you for these personal insights, Mr Kontothanassis. I wish you all the best for your private and professional future.
