100 days at PackSynergy – time for a first look back. In his first 100 days as Managing Director of PackSynergy, Thomas Wolf has gained plenty of new impressions: from getting to know the packaging industry and our members to working with the team on the future direction of our network. We asked Thomas to reflect on his first months: What has he learned? What has been the biggest challenge? And where does he see the greatest opportunities for PackSynergy?
What surprised you most during your first 100 days?
“Surprised” is not quite the right word – I would rather say “learned”. For one thing, I have learned a great deal about packaging: a fascinating field that most people hardly think about in their everyday lives, even though it is all around us.
What has impressed me most is the mentality of packaging distributors: hands-on, entrepreneurial, and able to make quick and pragmatic decisions. That suits me very well – it allows us to move forward together quickly.
What has shown you that you and the team are on the right track?
To be honest, in organizational development and business model development, you often only know whether you are truly on the right track once you have reached certain milestones – and that is exactly what makes it exciting.
What gives me confidence, however, is that we have a clear idea of where we want to go, and I see a team that is genuinely committed to moving forward together. Especially in the many personal conversations during my first few weeks, I could sense how much openness and shared determination there is.
Of course, you always have to reassess and adjust your course along the way. Sailing is no different: it comes down to the ship, the crew, and the right compass. And I am convinced that at PackSynergy, we have all three.
What has been your biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge – as with any move into a new organization – has been getting up to speed: developing a feel for how the organization works, how processes are structured, how decisions are made, and how communication and culture are lived.
This happens on several levels at the same time: in day-to-day business and the world of products – for example, I had no idea before that there are loud and quiet adhesive tapes – in getting to know our members and the topics that matter to them, and finally in addressing the fundamental question of where the PackSynergy ship should be heading and how we get there.
Bringing all of this together is demanding – but these are exciting challenges and ones that I genuinely enjoy.
Where do you see the greatest opportunities for the PackSynergy network?
I see opportunities in many areas – both operationally and strategically. On an operational level, for example, in further developing our portfolio of services and solutions; strategically, in defining where we want to take the network in the future.
We have excellent foundations for this. PackSynergy is already a strong and established network that has developed successfully over many years. Now it is about building on that strength, making targeted use of what we have already achieved, and taking the next step together.
My ambition is for PackSynergy to take a pioneering role in the European packaging industry – supported by a strong portfolio, a clearly defined network vision, new added value for our members, and growing attractiveness to prospective members.
This includes building European reach and reputation, actively addressing relevant industry topics, effectively representing the interests of our members and the wider industry, and driving innovation forward.
What are you looking forward to in the coming months?
I am currently visiting our members – and at every visit, I have been given an incredibly warm welcome. It has been a wonderful experience.
I am learning more about the companies and their products, but just as importantly, it is about getting to know the people. In the end, everything revolves around them: What makes them tick? What are their expectations? How curious are they about the future?
I find these conversations incredibly enriching – and they are what I am looking forward to most in the coming months.
ich haAt the same time, I am looking forward to working with the team and our members to further sharpen our direction and translate new ideas into concrete offerings. It remains exciting – and that is exactly what makes it so rewarding.