1.- How do you approach your appointment as the new technical director of Grupo Castrosua? What will be the main objectives of your management?
First of all, I have to thank everyone for the positive attitude with which newcomers are welcomed and for the desire for improvement that can be felt throughout the company. The fundamental objective is to put all these good intentions into practice. The company’s direction is very well defined and the areas for improvement are clearly identified.
The Technical Office must be adapted to the environment of the sector in which we operate, with a customer service spirit and agility. The future project is exciting. I perceive a team with enormous enthusiasm for work.
2.- You have extensive professional experience in companies related to the fishing industry and shipbuilding. How can all your previous work fit into the development of your new professional activity at Castrosua?
In both sectors you mention, we have gone from offering a product at a price set by producers to having to manufacture with a selling price defined by the market, having to adapt costs accordingly. This reconversion has swept away many companies and jobs.
Those who look to the future in this sector have succeeded by taking advantage of the potential of teamwork, maintaining a cost-control mindset, and having a customer-oriented service attitude wherever the client may be. I believe these principles are fully applicable to Grupo Castrosua.
As an anecdote from my time in this sector, I would like to point out that —curiously enough— my first professional job was carried out for the Castrosua racing sailboat. I worked for a time in a small company dedicated to optimizing boats, and it was within this framework that I carried out professional work for the boat bearing the coachbuilder’s name.
3.- What do you think of the work being carried out at our coachbuilding company now that you know it firsthand? What virtues would you highlight?
The effort the company has made to survive during a difficult, extremely difficult period is remarkable. It is curious to see that, despite coming from the trenches, there is still strength left to climb the next summit. The facilities and the investments made demonstrate the desire to grow in a very complicated market.
Now is the time to adapt in order to continue growing. All working methods need to be reviewed and we must think about how to improve globally, seeing Grupo Castrosua as a whole. To achieve this, we have a prepared team willing to embrace change, excellent facilities, and a structured commercial team.
4.- In your opinion, what are the major future challenges facing our sector?
The same challenges that have already been overcome in other sectors: reducing manufacturing and operating costs, continuously applying technological innovation to processes and products, adopting the customer’s mindset throughout the entire process by seeking value where the customer truly perceives it and eliminating what is superfluous. Integrating the entire production chain in order to generate value at the lowest possible cost.
5.- Of all the professional tasks you have previously carried out, which one stands out the most to you? What has been your best professional moment?
My time in the fishing industry was very productive because all the changes produced good results. The sector came from a period of wealth and had to professionalize its management in order to survive. Small actions achieved great results.
The best moment was in a heavy boiler-making company because I helped bring it out of bankruptcy protection. There was a wonderful team spirit and a clear objective. Faced with adversity, departmental barriers disappeared: there was only one common goal.
6.- Tell us a little more about yourself. What are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time?
Hobbies?? What’s that? I used to enjoy sailing in my free time. Now I enjoy spending time with my family. I think I burned through certain stages and now I dedicate all my time to them. My memories of my parents are all those moments we spent together — trips, excursions… I hope my family will have many memories like those too!
7.- A place to get lost in?
The sea, a sunrise after a night sail under a starry sky. And arriving at Mahón or any “hideaway” inaccessible by land on the Mediterranean islands.
