You don't just take over a family business like that. Do I really want to? This is a question many entrepreneurial children ask themselves, as they are the first to be considered as potential successors. This was also the case with our interview partner of the month, Dominique Kuhn. Founded by his father Peter Kuhn in 1990, Rhenochem AG has its headquarters in Basel and is active worldwide in pharmaceutical trading for end consumers in South America.
You don't just take over a family business like that. Do I really want to? This is a question many entrepreneurial children ask themselves, as they are the first to be considered as potential successors. This was also the case for our interview partner of the month, Dominique Kuhn. Founded by his father Peter Kuhn in 1990, Rhenochem AG has its headquarters in Basel and is active worldwide in pharmaceutical trading for end consumers in South America. A little known company in Switzerland, but one that has successfully established itself in the market for over 32 years through strong and long-term customer relationships.
When the time was right, the question arose: Which of the sons would continue to run Rhenochem AG? "My younger brother wanted to take a different path. And so, from training to starting my career, we made sure that everything was set in motion so that I would take over the management of the company later," says Dominique Kuhn. An alternative was never really an option, yet it was a self-determined decision for him. As an independent family business, Rhenochem AG now has two generations of comprehensive expertise in the global marketing of pharmaceuticals, which this succession solution keeps in the family.
Anyone who works in trade has to know logistics from the ground up. After graduating from commercial college, Dominique Kuhn joined Panalpina Basel. An important station in his life, which led to a two-year stay abroad in North Carolina in the USA. He then joined Rhenochem AG in 2004. This was followed by another stay abroad, this time in Venezuela. "I consider it extremely important to know the language and mentality of our sales partners. These times taught me the craft of selling and deepened the relationships with our partners."
After a ten-year transition phase, Dominique Kuhn took over the management of the family business in 2014. Would he himself, as the child of an entrepreneur, see one of his three children as the successor? He says that the children are already interested and he would be delighted if he could then pass the company on to a third generation. The values of the company are inseparably linked to the family values: Reliability, accuracy, honesty and respect - not clichés, but a lived reality. And this is not only appreciated by the long-standing sales partners.
Mr. Kuhn, if you had taken a different path when you were younger, what would you have become?
"Since Rhenochem AG is a family business, it was clear very early on which path I would take and I would like to take over the company sooner or later. Consequently, the training was also designed accordingly, including a stay abroad.
But if it had been a different path, it would have been something with sports medicine. Sports and medicine (in relation to the body and its functions) have always fascinated me."
What is your favorite way to start your day?
"Workdays with sports. Every day at 4:15 the alarm clock goes off and then there is 1h30 sport (fitness). Regular sports is an important balance for me and in the early morning I can make sure that nothing comes up and I can thus recharge my batteries and energy for the day and at the same time still have time for my family (3 children) after a long day at work in the evening. Same routine on the weekend, but a little more leisurely."
What does success mean to you personally?
"I define success as being able to take a path together in a team and having everyone follow the path with joy, motivation and commitment. Then success comes automatically. The exciting thing is that you can apply this in sports as well as in professional life, and in both cases success is not far away. This is also the recipe for success in our company. Get all employees on board and go the distance together."
What would you work for free for a week?
"As a former junior soccer coach, I would like to work more with children again and accompany and encourage them in their soccer careers. Unfortunately, however, I don't have the time to do this."
What was the best professional advice you ever received?
"It wasn't so much professional advice as it was realizing that the personal values we were taught at home as children, such as honesty, reliability and respect, are critical factors in being successful in our professional lives. "
Succession planning CEO
Batterman Consulting has been assisting SMEs with succession planning for almost 40 years. We have the privilege to manage exciting projects at C-level for our clients and would be happy to advise you on Succession planning.
We welcome inquiries about succession planning and will be happy to advise you:
Batterman Consulting Basel AG
Executive Search,
Byfangweg 1a, CH-4051 Basel
T +41 58 680 55 55
basel@batterman.ch
