When and how did you begin working in Alsina?
After spending more than seven years working in the marketing department of a multinational company in the young fashion sector, in 2000 Alsina proposed that I work in the company to begin the Internation Projection Project. There was no doubt in my mind that this was an opportunity I could not let go; I was excited about the work and I was being given the opportunity to enter the formworking world.
At a personal level, what are the results of almost eight years working in Encofrados Alsina?
It has really exceeded all my expectations. It is a tremendously exciting challenge where I have the marvellous luck of being a part of a very professional team which, above all, has a very high degree of demand, involvement and commitment.
I feel as though I am learning something new every day. We take on new projects, share numerous ideas and what is more, I enjoy every day.
Alsina is a 100% family company. How is the Family- Company relationship regulated?
In 1994 we prepared a first draft of Internal Regulations and in 2005 all the members of the family signed a Family Protocol over one hundred pages long that stated the principles that were to govern the the relations between the family and the company. It includes a fundamental principle which is that the family is at the service of the company; always seen from a long-term point of view, searching for sustained and solid financial growth. I should also mention that it is clearly stated that the best professionals be incorporated or promoted, whether family or not, to share management responsabilities. Behind all this is our desire to make the company as professional as possible. One example of this is the recently created Management Commitee, more than 80% of whom are very young professional staff that have been promoted, which demonstrates that the company has great potential and faces the future change of generation with plenty of time.
We can imagine that it is not easy to be " the son of.." How do you deal with the additional difficulty this implies?
To tell you the truth, it is not easy at all to manage.Comparisons are inevitable and especially so when your father is such a specific reference in both the organisation and the sector. I am proud of being able to work with him, to learn from his experience and work, to see how he suffers and pursues every new order, how he transmits the spirit and culture of the company. I am astounded at his capacity for work and commercial skills, his intuition and sixth sense when he takes on new projects. He is passionate about everything and that is something that fascinates me. The truth is that we are different in some aspects, although we share the essence and vision in many matters, each in his own style.
Year 2008, a complicated situation for the sector. How does Alsina face this new situation?
I think we were all aware that the situation was atypical and that some day it would have to slow down. I think we have done our homework in recent years and we have made thorough preparations to face new challenges, such as Public Works and International Projection. Another great challenge is to maintain our high share in the market and make a greater commitment, if possible, to our clients, presenting them with solutions and responding to make their work as easy as possible, while maintaining our capacity to be flexible and deliver high quality service. It is also during these difficult periods when those companies that are truly solid, well managed and that operate from a mid to longterm point of view, stand out from the rest.I am convinced that the high degree of commitment and self-responsibility of our personnel will help us overcome the difficulties of the upcoming two or three year period.
How is Alsina different from any other company in the sector?
I would highlight two aspects that I consider to be key and that perhaps explain why we are different: on the one hand the family character that undoubtedly makes us work with very marked principles and
values; profound respect for people, truth as the only path, the vision of not being the largest, but
the best at what we do. On the other hand, I would highlight our significant investment in R+D;
innovation and the destination of a great amount of resources in the improvement of processes and
services. Also, our firm decision to seek mid-term results, train and help our entire team so they can
develop professionally within the company.
How are things coming along at the international level?
It is an exciting project. We are taking strong cautious steps and trying to minimise risk. As is logical, each country has its own particularities, whether we are referring to the construction sector or to the culture of the country itself. Adapting to that reality and the capacity to train local teams to involve themselves in the project will be the keys to success. Another important matter is to achieve a brand name. As of now, we are very satisfied with the Delegations that we have started up, because their results have been very satisfactory and what makes us even more proud is that we are providing added value and technology that is being well-received by the professionals in the sector.
