Our interviewee ventured into self-employment at a young age, discovered his affinity for leadership and took responsibility for his own company. Sandro De Pellegrin's journey has taken him through various industries and positions, driven by a passion for constantly creating something new. This entrepreneurial experience has shown him how important it is to combine strategic and conceptual thinking with operations. Today, he brings this knowledge to his role as HR Director at Lactalis, a global dairy group with deep local roots.
The Lactalis Group may be unknown to some, but it is the world's number one cheese manufacturer and the European leader in the milk, butter and cream products markets, with 90,000 employees and 250 production sites in around 100 countries. There is hardly a person who does not know several of the 270 brands that belong to the Lactalis Group, including world-famous brands such as BAER, Galbani, Salakis, Leerdammer, Président and more. The combination of tradition, craftsmanship and state-of-the-art industry characterizes the family business.
Sandro De Pellegrin's fascination with HR stems from his belief that people are usually intrinsically motivated but are often hindered by inept leaders. He specializes in eliminating demotivating factors in order to make organizations efficient and successful. For him, as a generalist, all team members are of equal value and many goals can only be achieved if everyone works together. His goal is to spread joy and bring people together through simple and effective communication - be it through high-quality products at the dinner table or through exchange and togetherness in the workplace.
In his daily work at Lactalis, where products such as cheese, yoghurt, milk and ice cream are manufactured, he encounters a wide variety of people and professions - from food technologists to quality controllers and logistics experts. While it is crucial for the HR manager to have goals and pursue them consistently, it is also important to listen to his feelings and consciously seize the opportunities that life offers. His mindset is strongly geared towards being there for others and supporting them. For example, he is committed to ensuring that managers keep their doors open and are close to their teams.
With his many years of experience and his commitment to the people around him, Sandro De Pellegrin has built a unique career and always remains open to new challenges and developments. Find out more about him in our interview of the month.
Mr. De Pellegrin, if you had taken a different path when you were younger, what would you have become?
"Interesting question... I don't know. Life has a few twists and turns. It's usually the inconspicuous decisions that steer it in one direction or another.
What I know for sure is that even as a craftsman, technician or nurse, I would always have been looking for new playgrounds. Basically, however, I wouldn't have stayed in "one job" either way. I'm far too entrepreneurial for that. I always want to move, shape and achieve something. My curiosity, the desire to see new things and the urge to constantly develop myself further are the most important drivers in my life.
I started my career in the fashion industry as an apprentice sales assistant and tailor. At the age of 19, I was able to take over a store and work as deputy manager. At the age of 24, I started my own business in the fashion industry, opened a men's fashion boutique and imported and sold Italian knitwear. As the situation in the retail trade was already becoming difficult for small, independent entrepreneurs in the mid-1990s, I thought about my future for over a year. One of my clients was the owner of an HR consulting firm and a good friend worked in HR. Through the exchange with them, I then decided to steer my career in the direction of HR at the age of 30, with the aim of working as an HR manager one day."
What is your favorite way to start your day?
"As I work at several locations, I commute every day. I get up at 5.15 a.m. and my working day starts at 5.45 a.m. with a usually long drive. I treat myself to a cold coffee from my trusted bakery, something small to satisfy my hunger and listen to my favorite music - quite loudly, by the way."
What does success mean to you personally?
"Success in business, especially in HR, means "Being unique in developing innovative solutions that exceed expectations and create new opportunities for those we serve"...
I don't necessarily try to be better than others. But I do try to be better every day than I was yesterday."
"Personally, I am convinced that success is no coincidence, but the effect of knowledge x wanting x being able x doing."
Sandro De Pellegrin
What would you work for free for a week?
"Right now, I would love to spend a week in Ticino, Misox or Valais to help those who have lost so much after the storms of the last few days and are trying to clean up their lives. Unfortunately, I can't at the moment as I have a lot of work commitments over the next two weeks. But I have already been able to do such missions with the Civil Defense and they are incredibly rewarding. I can only recommend it. "
What was the best professional advice you ever received?
"It doesn't matter what you do. Do it so that it brings you joy. If you do what you do with your heart, you will succeed!"
We would like to thank Mr. De Pellegin for his contribution to this article.
This interview was conducted orally.
Batterman Consulting Basel AG
Executive Search,
Byfangweg 1a, CH-4051 Basel
T +41 58 680 55 55
basel@batterman.ch
