Kaito: How long have you been with KYBURZ?

Reto: I only joined the company on 1 October last year.

Kaito: What are your responsibilities?

Reto: Since October, I have been responsible for managing the finances of KYBURZ Switzerland AG and its subsidiaries in Germany and Australia.

In this role, I am not only responsible for ensuring that the accounts of these three companies are kept in order, but also that expenditure is in line with income, that the management has a clear overview of the financial situation and that risks to the company are assessed and minimised.

In addition, I am scheduled to take over the management of the human resources, IT and infrastructure departments in the coming months.

Kaito: How did you come across KYBURZ?

Reto: Although I have no technical background, I have been intensively involved with self-sufficient expedition vehicles in recent years – a passionate hobby that sparked my interest in technology.

That's why I'm fascinated by vehicle technology and power supply in vehicles. Since KYBURZ combines these two areas with its vehicles, I was hooked when I saw the job advertisement. I knew immediately that I wanted to apply for this position.

Kaito: Which task during your week do you find particularly exciting because it really challenges your skills as Head of Finance?

Reto: One very exciting task was the introduction of new accounting software. I was given the opportunity to redesign the internal cost centre and cost unit accounting system to better understand which areas and products contribute how much to the company's success.

This requires in-depth financial knowledge as well as knowledge of business processes. I learned a lot about the latter during this project.

There are also many other exciting and challenging tasks, such as negotiating with banks, spinning off Fleet to Traconiq, and various calculations and analyses to support management decisions.

Kaito: New location, new building, new office, new energy: how do you feel about this in your everyday life (both personally and professionally) or in the corporate culture?

Reto: I really appreciate the new building because now (almost) all departments are under one roof, which makes collaboration easier and more direct. Now, if I have any questions, I can just pop in (or drive over).

Kaito: If you could switch jobs within the company for a day, where would you go?

Reto: To service or assembly. Although I'm not a gifted craftsman, I enjoy doing DIY and learning from the best.

Kaito: Can you share a personal hobby or passion, and where do you recharge your batteries – in nature, through sport, with music or something else entirely?

Reto: I play squash every Monday evening. I enjoy wearing myself out playing with friends and it allows me to switch off.

I also love going for walks in the woods with Sandra and our dog, Teddy. It slows me down and gives me new energy.

Travel is also a passion of mine. I used to backpack around the world a lot. Nowadays, I prefer to travel to different countries in an expedition vehicle.

Kaito: Is there a goal you definitely want to achieve in the next few years?

Reto: In my private life, I've been working on a new truck for some time now, which we took over from a fire brigade in South Tyrol. We want to convert this 1984 Mercedes 1120 into an expedition vehicle over the next 3-4 years.