MEET THE BOSS
Although the company is well known by tradies and weekend renovating warriors, those who don’t typically pick up a chainsaw may not have heard of Hilti.
But with 21,000 staff worldwide, the power tools company is far from small time. Even the Australian arm, of which Jan Pacas is managing director, turned over $115 million last year.
For Pacas, running a local branch of a global business has its advantages.
‘‘[We feel] part of the global presence, and [can] draw on the resources like research and development, branding, IT and the knowledge that’s available globally. But we also have the autonomy to act in the way that’s the best for market in Australia, and it’s important that the team here feels able to do that,’’ he says.
When he was appointed to the role more than five years ago, Pacas was the youngest chief executive of the global chain.
‘‘It was a great learning experience, [but] age doesn’t matter so much: what’s more important are your leadership qualities,’’ he says. .
Coming from Europe (Pacas has both Czech and German roots), he also had to tune in to the Australian way of management.
‘‘When you come from overseas, people are a bit more suspicious of your leadership - you don’t convince them through statements, but through working as a team. You wouldn’t fit in in Australia with an authoritarian leadership style. In Germany or Switzerland people don’t doubt or challenge you [but] In Australia people need to be convinced. I like that: it's interesting,’’ he says.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Name: Jan Pacas
Current position: chief executive/managing director, Hilti Australia.
Responsibilities: Responsible for a multichannel sales force including direct sales, retail and online, as well as operations, finance and human resources.
Education: · Master of Economics, University of Economics, Prague.
Global Executive MBA, University of Sydney with international study modules at Stanford University, London School of Economics and IIMB Bangalore.
Additional training/courses: IMD (Business School) - Management Programs, Switzerland.
Professional associations: Member, Young Presidents Organisation (YPO).
Member, CEO Forum Group.
Honourable mentions: · Led Hilti Australia to receive Aon Hewitt Best Employer Award for the fourth consecutive year in 2014.
Secured the business the 2014 Swiss Award (an honour given to a company that has contributed to strengthening the relationship between Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Australia).
Strength: It’s for others to judge! Although I’d say communicating a company strategy is my strength.
Weakness: Lots, of course, Including patience. Thoughts are always faster than actions. I have had to learn while something can be fast on paper, transition in an organisation takes time.
Management style and tips: Build a winning team around you that you fully trust, and that you really want to work with. You spend so much time with your executive team, you want to be sure they are capable, great ambitious leaders that share a vision with you.
Work motto: I like ‘‘hope is not a strategy’’.
