Page 14 - FINAT Yearbook 2012

INTERVIEW
REVIEWING FINAT’S ‘2X2 STRATEGY’
Having celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2008, FINAT embarked on its journey into the second half of its first century a year later, when incoming President Andrea Vimercati and his designated successor Kurt Walker sat down together with the Board to draw up the strategic roadmap for the next four years. Now, almost four years later, it is time to analyse the status quo and define the course for the future.
On 27 April, the FINAT Executive Board convened in Amsterdam for their annual spring review meeting. It was an appropriate moment to tackle FINAT’s President Kurt Walker (tesa Bandfix, CH), Vice President Thomas Hagmaier (Hagmaier Etiketten, D), Past President Andrea Vimercati (Pilot Italia, I) and Treasurer Henrik Kajüter (Avery Dennison, NL) and Managing Director Jules Lejeune with a couple of questions.
WHAT PARAMETERS WERE SET WHEN THE STRATEGY WAS DRAFTED?
AV: When I was elected in 2009, we had just completed a four-year strategy cycle that was built on four pillars: raising the profile of FINAT and ensuring a healthy growth; further strengthening FINAT as the European umbrella organisation; offering more room for international business development and networking; and, finally, planting seeds in Asia.
And the association was very successful at that. We multiplied our exposure in international trade media through a professional PR strategy. Association membership grew substantially, and − thanks to a new membership fee structure and strong expansion in emerging markets like Turkey and India − we reached the 600 member benchmark. The Label Printers Forum and the Young Managers Club were established, and both platforms contributed to an increased interest from our membership in entrepreneurial and management issues, thus enriching the scope of our association beyond technology and market trends. And our joint congresses in Italy, Germany, France and Turkey in the preceding years helped to strengthen the relationship between FINAT and our national label association counterparts in leading European countries. All this activity was supported by a clear division of tasks and responsibilities among the Board members.
SO WHAT WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE PREVIOUS STRATEGY, AND WHY?
AV: We owe my predecessors David Harrisson and Jan-Frederik Vink much gratitude for their determination, consistency and perseverance. They set a strong example, and a lot of what we have done over the past few years has been a continuation of that strategy. But if you do what you have always done, you will get what you always got; and the world around us is changing fast. During a summer brainstorm in 2009 we defined four strategic intentions:
1. Enhance the global associations network as FINAT and its members go worldwide
2. Improve our service to members by using new media technology
3. Increase the synergies between the Board and committees
4. Re-assess FINAT’s scope as a self- adhesive association
KW: I would like to add that, in the course of the past few years, a fifth cornerstone has been added to our strategy: the establishment of a clear agenda to promote sustainability and recycling in our industry.
A CORNERSTONE OF FINAT’S CURRENT STRATEGY IS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS. WHAT HAS DRIVEN THIS APPROACH IN EUROPE?
KW: Over the past ten years, we have seen a tremendous evolution. Inside Europe, several national associations have moved from, or are moving from, a purely volunteer-driven force to a more professional structure. This has helped to strengthen our operational ties.
HK: Our Board members have gone round Europe interviewing decision makers about their perceptions and expectations concerning their relationship with FINAT as their European umbrella. This has helped to create a better mutual understanding. As I understand it, past discussions tended to focus on our differences − but we are
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Kurt Walker
FINAT YEARBOOK 2012 |