The "Assessment & Outplacement" business unit of Wilhelm AG will be spun off as a separate company on January 1st, 2023. The services will be offered by the company Avales Wilhelm AG from that point on. The new company is majority-owned by the Wilhelm Holding. The co-owner and managing director of Avales Wilhelm AG will be Mr. Andreas Rudolph.
Mr. Rudolph, what motivated you to leave LHH, an international company, to join Avales Wilhelm AG, a SME within the Wilhelm Group?
I began my career in HR at a consulting firm in the mid-1990s. At the time, moving to an international corporation was a significant career step for me, allowing me to gain valuable professional experience. During recent reorganizations, I took a closer look at my career goals. As talks with Stefan Wilhelm and Alex Minder became more specific, I had this overwhelmingly positive déjà vu experience, and I said to myself, "This is it, Andreas, go back to your roots!" Especially the shared vision for the development of the core business of Avales Wilhelm AG (in formation) prompted me to make this move. Additionally, the shorter decision-making process and the entrepreneurial spirit and human touch were crucial factors for me.
Why are the services of Wilhelm HR Consulting being spun off into a separate company?
The spin-off is taking place to clarify our service positioning in the market and to clearly distinguish ourselves from the core services of Wilhelm AG (Executive and Expert Search). Additionally, it is a strong signal towards the qualitative growth as a boutique, which I want to set with my involvement.
Will Avales Wilhelm AG continue to offer the same services as Wilhelm HR Consulting, or will there be changes?
We will continue with the successful portfolio that we have had in the past. At the same time, we are looking for meaningful and value-adding additions that are in line with our customer needs and, above all, with the development of the job market. I am sure that I can bring an accent to it thanks to my long-standing consulting experience in HR. Where the big players in the HR market are increasingly focusing on automated processes and solutions, and sometimes lose sight of the peculiarities of the Swiss job market, we as a boutique have the opportunity to distinguish ourselves from our competition with personal and tailored solutions.
What are your future plans and goals as CEO of Avales Wilhelm AG? Where is the company headed?
First, I would like to thank my predecessor Simon Gutknecht for everything he has accomplished with Wilhelm HR Consulting - the customer projects and mandates are impressive. In the first step, it is now about building on that and ensuring that customers continue to enjoy the same service and quality they were accustomed to with Mr. Gutknecht and his team. At the same time, I want to further expand our customer base in German-speaking Switzerland and position ourselves more broadly in this regard. Strategic partnerships are important to me, which complement us in areas where knowledge is limited. In the context of a 360-degree consulting approach, we want to be able to offer a comprehensive solution with the support of partnerships in the future. Stephan Radulian, an Austrian student, aphorist, and dreamy realist, once said, "Always have an ear for the past, an eye for the future, and a smile for the moment!" This quote very precisely describes how the future and goals of Avales Wilhelm AG should look. Let me clarify it as follows:
- Expanding the customer base in the German-speaking part of Switzerland
- Appropriate revenue growth that always follows the principle of "quality over quantity"
- Expanding the solution portfolio in the areas of coaching and career counseling, among others with the help of partnerships
Where do people meet you in your free time? Do you have any hobbies?
In my free time, you can find me on the ski slopes or on a great snowshoe trail in the Berner Oberland. In the summer, you might also find me on the golf course, or going on extended mountain hikes with my wife Marianne and our dog Giò. The Saanenland in the Bernese Oberland is our second home and an important place for me to recharge my batteries. In addition to hiking and playing golf, I enjoy listening to music and am a passionate hobby chef. Both music listening and cooking enhance my sense of creativity and provide a good balance to my professional life.
How would you characterize yourself?
I would describe myself as a curious and knowledge-seeking team player. Collaboration, exchange, and achieving common goals with the team are extremely important to me. This includes not just working with all employees, but also collaborating with our clients and candidates who entrust us with their needs every day. I also value an open, honest, and respectful culture of feedback that allows for continuous development. And last but not least, I am known to be a fun-loving person who likes to laugh, even at myself, and always has a witty remark to share, even in challenging situations.