"The situation is still tough, but we’re motivated."
Miguel Diez
Since February, Miguel Diez has been managing the team consisting of eight employees at Bauerfeind’s subsidiary in Spain. When he took over the position in Valencia during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 47-year-old benefited from his experience in the market as well as from knowing how to deal with huge crises: he started his professional career as a product manager at PRIM, a medical technology manufacturer. Later, he worked there as an export manager for three years. In 2008 – right at the beginning of the global financial crisis – he became the managing director at Thuasne in Spain. In 2020 – at a time when the coronavirus had just started spreading throughout Europe – Miguel Diez joined Bauerfeind.
How were the first few months at Bauerfeind for you, in these unusual times?
Just before the beginning of the crisis, I had the chance to meet some colleagues personally – people who have supported me every day since then. From March 15, everything changed, and the previous challenges looked small compared with what the crisis had in store for us. I’m still impressed with the strength and sensitivity the German team showed me. Comprehensive communication, mutual trust, plus a willingness to use the time productively – that was the simple formula that kept me going. And that’s what I passed on to my team.
How did that work at the beginning?
I was the new manager, the “helmsman” in this terrible situation, and my colleagues didn’t know me at all. I tried to calm everyone down and to explain my business concept to everybody in long telephone calls. And despite all these obstacles, I’m proud of them all. The team showed me that Bauerfeind Ibérica is strong. The situation is still tough, but we’re motivated.
What is your recipe for keeping your team motivated?
We try to reach short-term goals, secure in the knowledge that all this will only be a part of our memories in a few months. And even if there are uncertainties every now and then, we all know that Bauerfeind is a strong company with great products.
Speaking of products: what is your favorite one?
I can only name one? What a difficult question to finish with! I would have to go with three: GenuTrain because it represents the Bauerfeind brand. MalleoTrain S because it helped me a lot personally. And EpiTrain because that was the first product I came in contact with, and it immediately won me over.