You have been building your career in the construction sector for over a decade – from distribution manager to the position of Commercial Director, which you've held at Bekament for just under a year. How do you reflect on that period of professional development? – To be completely open and honest, I was quite fortunate over those past ten years. In the first few years (2011–2015), I was literally learning about the construction industry, and then, during the construction boom (2016–2021), I happened to be in the right place at the right time. SIKA Serbia marked my career from 2012 to 2021, and everything came together nicely with a one-year engagement at SIKA USA (2021–2022). Now, I am at Bekament, a strong domestic company with many quality people and an ambitious business strategy. It's an environment I enjoy working in. I believe I’m once again in the right place. How has the construction sector in our country changed during that period? – I think I've already answered that – there was something between stagnation and mild growth during the period from 2012 to 2015, and then a growth that no one expected or could have predicted (2016–2021). Manufacturers of construction materials, traders, contractors... everyone has grown their businesses three to four times in the past six or seven years. The construction sector has expanded and developed in all directions – from infrastructure to residential construction, all the way to private homes. New materials, exceptionally high-quality construction, and drastic improvements, both in functionality and aesthetics. You worked for a year in the United States. Can work experiences in America and Serbia even be compared? What would you highlight as something particularly valuable for you, and how much of the new experiences and knowledge were you able to apply in your work here? – America is truly something invaluable in my experience. At first, you do feel a bit intimidated. You’re left breathless by all those billions, astonished by the millions of square meters in large projects and the massive retail chains like HOME DEPOT (around 2,300 DIY stores). You find yourself in business plans worth hundreds of millions of dollars, while just yesterday, things were on a much smaller scale. However, business still has its universal rules; trade is simple if you approach it that way, and very quickly, you realize that whether you're in Serbia or America, you're still dealing with people, not billions of dollars. And that’s really the turning point – you turn to your own reasoning, experience, and knowledge, and jump into the game on "foreign turf." Americans are undoubtedly target-oriented, focused on achieving results, always measuring what has been done and how profitable it is. If you immerse yourself in that way of thinking and operating, you can’t help but succeed in that environment. I think I had that approach before, but working in America reinforced it and confirmed it to myself. Yes, the confidence I gained in the U.S. is certainly the most important thing I brought back, and it means a lot to me now in this new company. What, in your opinion, are the biggest challenges managers face, regardless of the sector they operate in? – I have only one answer – the biggest challenge is the employees. In my opinion, people management makes up 80% of management. I believe this is precisely where successful companies and good managers separate themselves from the less successful ones, modern from traditional, and innovative from those who stagnate, and so on. Every salesperson must find a way to sell more of the product range that brings them higher profits. So, not "sales for the sake of sales," but "sales for the sake of profit." This year, there has been a decline in real estate transactions, as well as a drop in the number of issued building permits. The construction sector's turnover parameters for the first six months also show a decline, so we are interested in your opinion on the current situation in the construction sector. – You’re right. We all notice the stagnation and decline. It’s clear that 2021 was the peak of that five-year cycle, and now, in 2023, market conditions are changing. My impression is that the decline will continue until the end of 2023, and 2024 will be a significant challenge for everyone. How do you assess the current situation in the paints and coatings market? – It follows the general trend of the construction industry. However, no matter the crisis or decline, manufacturers whose product portfolio is based on renovation and refurbishment materials (renovating and maintaining buildings) will feel the negative trends less than those who predominantly deal with materials for new construction (concrete, steel, cement, bricks...). How will the construction and paints and coatings sectors in Serbia and the region develop in the future? – That’s a tough question and a difficult answer. I believe the second half of 2023 and all of 2024 will be a period in which the market decline will continue. What motivates you professionally to pursue new development and advancement? – Let’s have a little laugh – you’ve got to make a living somehow. Every new company is a new treasure trove of knowledge, skills, and experiences. I still get excited when I learn something new and realize that I can continue raising my own professional bar. I’m not sure how the readers will interpret this, but only now have I really started enjoying the work I do, and I want even more. How do you assess the current situation in the paints and coatings market? – It follows the general trend of the construction industry. However, no matter the crisis or decline, manufacturers whose product portfolio is based on renovation and refurbishment materials (renovating and maintaining buildings) will feel the negative trends less than those who predominantly deal with materials for new construction (concrete, steel, cement, bricks...). What activities do you dedicate yourself to outside of work, and how do you like to spend your free time? – That’s the easiest one – I enjoy spending time with my family, with my children, my wife, and my two dogs, all of whom I love immensely. I also find time to watch sports, and lately, I've been playing padel with friends, going to restaurants, taking walks... and that's about it. 2002–2007: Executive Director of Commercial Affairs, Rubin AD, 2007–2008: Distribution Manager, Jezero d.o.o., 2010–2012: Distribution Manager, Toza Marković d.o.o., 2012–2021: Distribution Manager, Sika, 2021–2022: Sales Manager, Sika USA, 2022: Regional Sales Director, TKK, 2022: Commercial Director, Bekament.
