«For me, IGP has always stood for change.»
Portrait Leo D'Anna
From machine mechanic to member of the executive board: Over the course of decades, Leo D’Anna has helped shape the transformation at IGP, constantly reinventing himself along the way.
Leo D’Anna’s path took him from the workshop to the office and on to the executive suite. Along the way, he not only saw the company grow but also continued to develop himself. Today, Leo looks back on that time while also looking ahead.
From Mechanic to Executive
Raised in Frauenfeld, Leo D’Anna began his professional career with an apprenticeship as a machine mechanic. After gaining his first experience as an assembly supervisor, he quickly realized he wanted to make a bigger impact.
Through numerous continuing education courses taken while working, he gradually made the transition from the workshop to the office. This was followed by positions in work planning, development, and process engineering, and later as production manager.
In 1995, Leo joined IGP, initially also as production manager. As part of a succession plan, he later took over as plant manager and became a member of the executive board. One thing in particular has shaped him: a commitment to lifelong learning and the mindset of always getting back up one more time than you fall down.
IGP in Transition
When Leo D’Anna joined IGP, the company had about 80 employees and was roughly six times smaller than it is today. The following years were marked by strong growth: buildings were expanded, capacities increased, facilities modernized, and the organization and leadership continuously refined. «For me, IGP has always stood for change,» says Leo.
While he was heavily involved in day-to-day operations as plant manager at the beginning and led in a very hands-on manner, his role today is significantly more strategic. As the company grew, the job requirements also changed: Today, he acts more as a generalist, leads through specialized teams, and is no longer directly involved in day-to-day operations.
«The job title may still be the same, but the nature of the work has completely changed,» says Leo.
Digitalization & Lean – A Powerful Duo
From Leo’s perspective, digitalization and lean management play a central role in a company’s success: «Digitalization provides tools to make processes more efficient, faster, and more transparent. Lean management eliminates waste, focuses on value creation, streamlines processes, and allocates resources more effectively.»
When both approaches are combined, digitalization provides tools and data, while Lean Management establishes the appropriate mindset and structure. Only then can digitalization realize its full potential. Digitalizing poor processes, on the other hand, usually leads to a decline in performance.
The key is employee engagement and a culture of continuous improvement. For change to succeed, it requires a vision, clear goals, good communication, and leaders who actively lead by example. At the same time, employees and leaders must be empowered, as learning and constructively addressing mistakes are integral parts of the process. All of this requires time, patience, and continuous feedback and adjustments.
Handing Over Responsibility and Embracing Change
Leo is currently in a transitional phase. He has handed over his area of responsibility to Markus Wagner and reduced his workload. At the same time, he continues to support the company with his experience and contributes to ongoing projects.
This step wasn’t easy: «I poured my heart and soul into building up the business and the plant in Poland. Now I can’t shy away from or resist this new situation. That makes it all the more important to me to know the business is in good hands, to hand over the projects smoothly, and to ensure that IGP’s successful growth continues.»
What is he looking forward to? To slowing down a bit in the future, living each day more mindfully, and having more time for his own priorities – more peace and more balance. At the same time, one thing is clear to him: he won’t be standing still completely. Continuing to grow, learning new things, and remaining open to whatever the future holds are still an integral part of who he is.
