sportFACHHANDEL 03_2018 Leseprobe

3.2018 Interview
Interview | WINTER | 35
sportFACHHANDEL: How is Leki?
Waltraud Lenhart: We are fine. We are very
pleased with the development over the past five
years. Back then all of us had a hard time to deal
with the situation after my husband’s death and in
light of that one can truly be pleased with what has
been achieved since then. What really touched me
was the fact that every employee worked hard and
everyone did their bit in order to process and get
over our loss. And thanks to the joint efforts we can
plan ahead for the future again.
It was always said you felt more comfortable in the
background. Through your husband’s tragic death
you were in the limelight though. How did you
personally handle the responsibility that suddenly
rested upon your shoulders? You are right. It is really
not that I need the limelight. I had been working in
the background behind my husband for 30 years
and was used to taking and carrying responsibility.
Of course there is a difference whether one is in the
second or the front row. But that has become part of
my life now and I gladly carry the responsibility for
the company, the brand and my husband’s legacy.
How has your life changed? The own activities are
suddenly noticed by a much larger public. That was
a big adjustment for me.
You have already hinted at it: Over the last five
years many things at Leki have changed Changes,
there have been, are only natural. For example
in terms of the management team. I cannot and
won’t copy my husband. One has to find one’s
way. My first learning process in responsibility
was that there is always a need for a strong second
leadership so everything can go on smoothly
when the head is suddenly no longer there. The
question how we were to position ourselves in the
new situation was truly a challenge. But it was
necessary.
How is Leki positioned now? I carry the entire responsibility
and am supported by my management
team consisting of Matthias Hatt for sale, Martin
Rominger for the finances/controlling and Gerald
Kinbacher for purchase/production. All of us
together lead Leki’s fortune.
What vision do you have for Leki? Concerning
management it should always be built up in a way
that the company doesn’t depend on one single
person since it is about so much more than the
brand Leki. It is about humans, jobs. And it is my
goal to position the company in a way that I can one
day go on pension reassured.
Leki is a family company. Is Leki also going to
remain a family company when you go on pension?
That’s my goal!
The outdoor branch is currently characterised by
consolidation and digitalisation. The solution for
many suppliers is often summarised >>>
Leki is celebrating its 10th
birthday with an important
innovation in the pole area,
the Trigger S.
I cannot and don’t
want to copy my
husband. One hast to go
one’s own way.«
Waltraud Lenhart