CEO with digital drive

Olivier Rihs has been CEO of Switzerland's largest network of online marketplaces (AutoScout24, MotoScout24, ImmoScout24 and Anibis.ch) since April 2011. He did not plan his career from the beginning. Rather, in 2001, during his long journey in South and North America, the desire to tackle an exciting challenge grew in him. "I wanted to commit myself to a project that I could tackle with full commitment and a lot of curiosity," he says - and you believe him immediately. The athletic man in his mid-forties radiates a healthy self-confidence, and his cheerful openness comes across as authentic, especially since it is infused with a willingness to talk about mistakes and bad decisions. "Mistakes happen, especially in such a fast-growing and changing industry," says Rihs. He always encourages his employees, even if they are unsure, to try something rather than hesitate for a long time. After all, he says, you can learn from mistakes, but if you do nothing, nothing can happen.

Always in flux

Before working for Scout24, digital technologies were not a particular focus on Rih's resume. He graduated from the University of Lausanne with a degree in economics and worked in the automotive industry for almost ten years, including as district manager at GM Suisse SA in Biel and Peugeot Suisse SA in Bern. But he soon began to be fascinated by the digital and everything related to it. It's all about constant development, says Rihs. And that was exactly what he was looking for after his long journey through South America.

The beginnings of Scout24 Switzerland go back to the Internet boom phase of the nineties. In 1995, founder Daniel Grossen already had the idea of digitizing data and classified ads. The business developed rapidly. "Today, digital classifieds are available on every device in Responsive Design," says Rihs. Scout24 Switzerland is currently owned by Ringier Digital (56%) and the American financial investor KKR (44%). The latter is not only interested in returns, but also in taking the company to the next level. Both shareholders are therefore driving innovation forward in a targeted manner.

"Compared to America, we are certainly four to five years behind in digitization in Europe, especially in Switzerland," says Rihs. At the same time, it is clear that the use of the Internet and mobile devices in Switzerland is almost the highest in the world. In many companies, however, this is not yet reflected in marketing budgets, for example. Just about 13 percent of all advertising spending was allocated to digital in 2014. "Switzerland therefore has a huge amount of catching up to do," concludes Rihs. In this environment, Scout24 sees itself as a driver of digital innovations. One wants to focus on the potential of digital marketplaces and their advertising opportunities, in the car, or real estate sector as well as with classifieds, says Rihs. Scout24 analyzes customer wishes and needs in detail and tries to cleverly connect the different stakeholder groups. "It's all about networking and innovation," Rihs sums up.

Well-trained employees are needed to drive the digital transformation forward. But this is precisely where Rihs currently sees a major challenge: not just in Switzerland, but worldwide, there are too few software engineers, too few specialists. The core business is run by the approximately 260 employees in Switzerland. However, Scout24 also works decisively with external forces. In 2008, the company bought a company in Vietnam with 30 software engineers. "Not because it would be cheaper there, but because we find exactly the people with the appropriate skills that we need there," Rihs emphasizes. In his opinion, the authorities have a greater obligation to support digitization in Switzerland and to promote appropriate training. After all, software development is still a male-dominated industry. But he also recognizes a new, encouraging development: "Young women in particular with an affinity for technology are increasingly starting with us as career changers," says Rihs.

With 40,000 francs to a healthy company

Scout24 has not grown quickly to its current size, but it has been continuous and stable. Moreover, the company started very small as a start-up. The founder had just 40,000 francs to invest, Rihs reveals.

Today, Scout24's approximately 260 employees work in a large, modern building. The Minergie building is located right next to a large field and a group of single-family homes, surrounded by hills and fields. The high window fronts of the Scout24 building provide an unobstructed view of it from every office location. Flamatt, Scout24's headquarters, is in the middle of nowhere - or so it seems. However, the location is well situated for employees from Fribourg and Bern as well as from Thun or Lausanne. In the early days, the location was not an advantage when it came to recruiting staff, says Rihs. In the meantime, however, employees enjoy coming to Flamatt, whether by e-bikes, car or train - some of them even from Zurich. This is not necessarily because of the idyllic surroundings, but certainly because of the generally ecologically healthy attitude of the management level. For example, there is no free coffee for employees, but there is fruit. The brightly colored walls reflect the light more intensively, so that less electricity is needed. There is a large gym in the basement, and the food in the staff restaurant is a special highlight, as various employees confirm. A good-humored, relaxed mood strikes visitors even before they enter the building. This helps in stressful times, too, they say. "We have to perform very well; our customers have high expectations," Rihs emphasizes. He himself occasionally works from home, and regularly on weekends. He is and has to be very flexible when it comes to organizing his private life and work, he reveals. Fortunately, he has a family that fully supports him in this. That's why he doesn't expect his employees to answer his e-mails on weekends. Despite ambitious goals, work-life balance is a top priority at Scout24.

Ursina mason

In a nutshell
Olivier Rihs began his career at Scout24 Switzerland in 2002 as Chief Operation Officer (COO). In 2005, he was appointed Director of the AutoScout24 platform, a position he held until 2009. Between 2009 and 2011, Rihs was responsible for the AutoScout24, MotoScout24, ImmoScout24 and JobScout24 marketplaces as Chief Commercial Officer. In this position, he was responsible for the overall sales budget and growth of the individual marketplaces, with the aim of expanding AutoScout24's market-leading position and achieving the same position at ImmoScout24 and JobScout24 (in cooperation with Jobs.ch). Olivier Rihs is 45 years old and father of two children. He grew up in Biel and is a native French speaker. A passionate sportsman, he used to play football intensively and now finds his balance in his family, jogging, skiing and golfing or as a fan at EHC Biel games and as a sponsor of SC Bern, HC Fribourg-Gottéron and Lausanne Hockey Club.