Thanks a lot for taking the time to tell us a little about yourself and your work. How would you describe yourself?
Marcos Bastolla: “I’m a real food enthusiast and I have been a passionate traveller since my childhood. I like to be constantly on the move because it allows me to develop and absorb everything the world has to offer. We can learn from every experience we have – even the bad ones. Every person we meet can change us. It just depends on how open we are.”
When did you join hubergroup and what are your main responsibilities, today?
Marcos Bastolla: “I have been on board with hubergroup Brasil since day one – that is, since 2005. At that time, Alexander Moller and I kicked off hubergroup’s activities in Brazil – I was in charge of the technical support.
A lot has happened since then, of course. Our South and Latin American business has quickly taken off. So, I started to work as Technical Support in Latin America in 2008 and, since 2014, I have been responsible for all Latin and South American countries, in which hubergroup operates with distributors. This includes 15 countries, for example, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile. I support our distributors and ink users in optimising their printing processes and results.”
Helping to build up our Brazilian subsidiary sounds like a very exciting job. What were the biggest challenges back then and how did you overcome them?
Marcos Bastolla: “It was like raising a child from birth. In the beginning, you don’t even understand what is happening. Then, you get some small satisfactions: the first container arrival, the first sale, the joining of new colleagues… The Brazilian bureaucracy was a real challenge. I believe, we have overcome it due to our amazing team – everyone was really dedicated and excited about the possibilities. Teamwork was for sure our ticket to success.”
And how has the South and Latin American printing market changed since that time?
Marcos Bastolla: “In 2005, the market was still on the top of the wave with newspapers and commercial printing. As all over the world, this has changed significantly. Nowadays, all the markets are much more technical and packaging oriented. Our amazing network of distributors, who over time understood the local needs, helps us to provide the rights solutions to our customers. This is a key to the success of our business.”
How did you get in touch with the printing industry in the first place?
Marcos Bastolla: “When I was 14 years old, I started printing on an old Linotype machine in the Amazon jungle in Brazil. Later, I went to Sao Paulo and graduated in Graphic Arts. I became a printer of a brand-new Roland 700 when I was 18 and stayed in this position for about five years. Afterwards, I became a print shop manager and, after working for two other ink manufacturers as a technician, I came to hubergroup.”
What do you like most about your job?
Marcos Bastolla: “I love the fact that my work brings me into contact with different cultures. But even more importantly, I find printing technologies and the printing market very interesting. I enjoy supporting the development of new products and witnessing when customers eventually use the ink for their products. As the printing market is constantly changing, I also have the opportunity to learn a lot, which benefits my personal development in many ways.”
And finally, what is your favourite colour and why?
Marcos Bastolla: “It’s always been orange. Simply because I really love the contrast that orange can create on food and clothing.”