"Enjoying dinner together is an important ritual in international business."

Urs Hefti spent 25 years as CEO in various companies, including Crossrail Benelux. At Swiss Interim Management (SIM), interim manager Hefti is currently helping to build the platform Trainbutlers, which provides services of all kinds in the rail freight transport sector. In this interview, he talks about the collaboration with SIM, other exciting mandates around the world – and why he finds negotiations in the Asian region so fascinating.

?Good afternoon, Mr. Hefti. Would you tell us how you got in touch with SIM?

René Walpen, the founder of Success In Time recommended SIM and put me in touch with Daniel Rolla, Gianmario Dussin and Walter St?uble. Through a SIM mandate, I was given the opportunity to help set up the company Trainbutlers in Freiburg, Germany. Trainbutlers is a professional network that focuses on all aspects of rail freight transport.

What is special about working with SIM? What is it that you particularly like – and are there things we should improve?

First of all, SIM is and has always been a company that operates remotely. Most of our meetings have taken place online so far. You may like or dislike that. But personally, I have had mostly good experiences. What also stands out is that the employees at SIM are very open, down-to-earth and always happy to help. With them, you share ideas, get advice and great support.

Your LinkedIn profile reveals that you speak many languages, including Dutch. How does that come about?

Yes, I lived and worked in Belgium for a few years. But now I've been in Germany for a while. That does not exactly improve my Flemish language skills. To keep up a certain level, you have to actively do something for it (laughs).

You define International Markets as one of your strengths. What do you like most about working in international settings?

I used to work at Mettler Toledo. There, I worked closely with our partners in the USA and was involved in production in China. Then I was managing director of Giroflex with projects in Brazil, India, Asia, Russia and Turkey, among others. So the international contacts just happened and I enjoyed them. My colleagues often tell me that I am not a typical Swiss (laughs). I find the Asian markets very interesting. Especially China. If the government wants to change something, they will. You can actually feel that in business negotiations. Also, international communication is always challenging. Many languages spoken in Asia are much more subtle than German or English. Some of them depend on pitch, for example. So gestures and being open to local customs play a major role. Enjoying dinner together is an important ritual. It creates trust and drives business forward. I experienced that during the planning of the freight train line between China and Liège, Belgium, in which I was involved. This kind of exchange fascinates me time and time again.

?Trainbutlers is all about rail freight transport. Are trains also your personal passion?

Well, Trainbutlers is a platform that places train drivers and wagon masters, but also offers services and products. Within a few months, we have made a name across a large part of the German-speaking railroad world. That is very satisfying. But actually, I got into trains more by coincidence. Originally, I am a logistics specialist, a genuine “problem solver”. But yes, the passion for trains has developed over time (laughs).?

?Thank you very much for the interview, Mr. Hefti.