Nov, 2023

Looking to the Future of Ameropa

"Ameropa" is a story that spans generations, dotted with the excitement of entrepreneurialism but also grounded in the spirit of the everyday. Founded in 1948 by Arthur Zivy (1882–1968) and his son Felix Zivy (1918–2010), Ameropa was developed and expanded over the years by their children and grandchildren. Now, in a moment of generational transition, the Holding Board is still under the leadership of Andreas Zivy as Chairman, but the fourth generation of shareholders is increasingly more active in helping to shape the ambitions for our company΄s long-term future.
    As we celebrate the company΄s 75th year, the introduction of these fourth-generation shareholders heralds a new chapter, so we thought relevant to share some of their backgrounds, perspectives, and activities in and around Ameropa.
    There can be a sometimes humorous, and sometimes difficult blending of family and business that happens when you grow up in a family business, but one thing is certain: it infuses the business into your DNA. The line between office and home is anything but clear, and certainly the conversation topics range far beyond sports and school.
    "My brothers [Jan and Julian] and I used to hear about all sorts of things at the dinner table, like ships stuck in Lebanon due to a sudden snowfall," remembers Nina Zivy. "I΄m guessing there were not many 9-year-olds in Switzerland getting a Lebanese weather report!"
    Nina has herself gone onto a reasonably international career so far, combining an MA in Middle Eastern Studies from Tel Aviv University and a BA in Political Science, Islamic Studies, and Literature from Universität Zürich to work in various roles in project management and business development. For the last three years, she has worked for Yuval Noah Harari (Sapienship) in project management.
    And the dinner table is not where things ended: "I would be opening a present at my birthday and suddenly would be getting a lecture from my grandfather [Felix] on ΄Discipline, Sport and Humility΄," laughs Peter. "There was no internet back then, but pretty sure those would have been the first values of Ameropa on the website. How many kids can say they know company values in kindergarten!?"
    Many of you would know Peter well from his 15 years working in the company, starting on the Metals and Mining Desk (focused on cobalt in Congo), and then working in Ameropa South Africa and Ameropa North America in various trading and financial roles, and eventually back in Binningen heading Business Development and IT. Recently, Peter left his operational role in Ameropa to focus on his own real estate development company.
    But along with his cousin Alix Zacharias and uncle Andreas Zivy, he helped the family to establish the Family Council in 2021. This group comprises all three ownership branches of the family (Miescher, Zacharias and Zivy) and ensures that the shareholders have a forum to discuss Ameropa΄s developments and business updates as well as any shareholder matters that arise. This group also coordinates, once a year, for the shareholders to meet with Ameropa΄s Board, CEO and key members of the GLT and senior management to hear about strategy developments within the company.
    "As the business has grown, the family has grown. This means the nature of the relationship between shareholder and business is also naturally evolving," said Peter. "The Family Council is helping us to organize ourselves to ensure that the business gets clear messages from the shareholders, and vice versa."
    Beyond just the Family Council, the fourth generation also has two active Board Members, Lucas Miescher and Blake Zacharias; along with one cousin working in the business, Josh Zacharias. Josh΄s journey into Ameropa was from much further away than his Swiss cousins but had many of the same key themes.
  

"Ameropa" is a story that
spans generations, dotted
with the excitement of
entrepreneurialism but
also grounded in the spirit
of the everyday.

  
    "I remember when I used to come from the US to visit my cousins in Switzerland. This was in the time that the trading desks for Ameropa were in the living room of the house [before the new/current office was built in 2001-02]," recalls Josh. "The garden was off limits except at lunch time and pretty late in the evening, and it was only many years later that I solved my childhood mystery of what all those traders were doing that stopped me from running around!"
    Josh is part of the "American branch" of Ameropa΄s shareholders. Along with his sister Alix and cousins Blake and Eric, they are the grandchildren of Laure (Zivy) Zacharias, Felix΄s sister. Josh started working for Ameropa in 2009 in the Credit Team in Binningen, and after stints in Ameropa North America, Ameropa Australia and then Binningen again, he currently works as CEO and Commercial Director of Azomures.
    "I grew up far away from Ameropa, but from the first days in the Credit Team through my time in the US and Australia and now to my recent years working closely with the Azomures, Danube and Fertilizer teams, I can say I really found a family atmosphere with the employees and offices wherever I went," says Josh.
    This is a common refrain said by all the shareholders, that the culture and employees of Ameropa have forever been a sort of extended family. This strong internal culture placed a focus on long-term relationships, reliability and constant integrity that allowed customers, suppliers, and employees to count on Ameropa, not just for a deal, but for generations.
    As Ameropa embarks on its 75th year of operation, there are already 11 kids in the fifth generation, and the idea of being a “good shepherd” of an enduring family business is high on the mind. Most importantly, the fourth-generation shareholders are focused on ensuring that Ameropa is living its strong cultural values as a path to long-term sustainable growth.
    "While the CARE values are newly articulated, they are touching a lot of things we heard about and saw within the business while growing up, and we still see today," reflects Nina. "It makes us proud to be shareholders, and likewise, we hope it allows next generations to be proud to work for and partner with Ameropa."

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