Rolf Blaser, CEO and Managing Director of A. Baur & Co. Pvt Ltd. also known as Baurs, a leading conglomerate with diversified business interests among various sectors in the country, was recently bestowed with the ‘Most Admired CEO of the Year 2022’ title in recognition of his visionary leadership, resilience, and growth-innovation mindset inevitably displayed throughout last year despite the many challenges.
Hosted by The CEO Magazine, the 2022 CEO of the Year Awards was held at Cinnamon Grand Colombo on 1st February and saw the participation of some of the most renowned personalities who steer and drive Sri Lanka’s corporate sector and economy forward.
Under Blaser’s leadership, Baurs has seen a rapid transformation in its strategic direction with the aim of continuing to be the most sought-after partner among suppliers both locally and internationally, representing well renowned and reputed brands and organizations who have placed their trust in the company for decades, and also as the employer of choice for hundreds of Sri Lankans.
Baurs has raised the bar for being the first in many initiatives that sets the stage for others to follow suit. Very recently and for the first time in Sri Lanka, Baurs introduced a one-of-a-kind child support benefit for all its employees. Celebrating 125 years of progressive innovation and a corporate legacy that is built on its Swiss heritage and value systems, Baurs has evolved to becoming not just the largest private fertilizer company but also a fast-growing name in various sectors.
Some of its partners include Sandoz, Norvatis, Roche (Pharma), Omron, Nouvag, Medtronic (Surgical & Diagnostics), Johnson & Johnson, Nestle, Marico (Consumer), Kluber Lubrication, Kisco, Datacolor (Textile Machinery), Elanco, Lonza, AgBiTech (Agriculture), and Swiss Air Lines, Swiss Tours, Edelweiss, and Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (Travel & Education), and its long-standing relationships with the partners are only growing stronger and deeper.
The colleagues at Baurs also share similar views, commending on its workplace culture that has deeply cultivated intrinsic trust, pride, cameraderie and fun. Baurs strongly resonates its success and growth to all employees, investing significantly in one’s personal and professional development to take on new opportunities and responsibilities, whilst ensuring mutual respect, care, and integrity. The Leadership Grooming Program and Baurs Toastmasters Club are just a few of many.
Baurs was one of the few that assured job security with no layoffs or salary deductions during the height of the pandemic and went onto providing various financial and non-financial assistance including increased insurance cover for its lower income group and organized many heartwarming activities to welcome back its employees.
The emphasis on employees’ psychological well-being continues to be stronger than ever, with company-wide policies and programs aligned with its diversity, equity and inclusivity (DEI) pillar. Ensuring gender equality and women empowerment has been a long-standing philosophy and practice at Baurs, and an integral aspect to pursuing its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in addition to its commitment towards the UN Global Compact (UNGC) initiative. Baurs also organizes and pursues numerous community and social indulgence activities along with its employees and suppliers, to actively give back to the society