Who are you and what is your role at Retero?
I am Jürgen Retter, CEO of Retero, and I founded this company 20 years ago together with my father.
I am very proud that we were able to celebrate our 20th anniversary last year, with my two sons by my side, who have joined the company. So the family tradition is being carried on, which makes me incredibly happy. Even when we founded the company, our goal was to manufacture the smallest components with the highest quality, and this strategy has really paid off. Under the growing pressure from low-wage countries, specializing in a niche and the highest quality is the right way to establish ourselves in the market for the long term.
When I recently explained my responsibilities to Sascha and Joël and we drew up the succession plan together, I realized for the first time just how multifaceted my role at Retero actually is.
There’s a saying in German that being self-employed means you are both “your own boss and always on the job”, and that describes my situation quite well. I run the company, make strategic decisions, handle sales, maintain direct contact with our customers, and do quite a bit more. But that’s exactly what I love about it! This closeness to the people, to the technology, and the exciting projects. That’s also why I like to personally visit our customers and deliver completed orders. I want to stay close to our customers and keep a direct sense of their needs.
With all of this, however, it’s also important to me not to lose my work-life balance. Through early succession planning, I hope to be able to hand over tasks step by step and consciously make more time for myself. I find my personal balance in tennis. In recent months, I’ve even managed to set aside two hours regularly during my lunch break to unwind on the tennis court and work up a sweat. Afterward, I return to work with a clear head, renewed energy, and a sharp focus.
Ultimately, for me, it’s about leading a company with joy, responsibility, and humanity—and living by these very values.
What drives you personally?
I’m fascinated by the blend of high-tech and craftsmanship. But even more important to me are the people behind it all: our employees, our customers, and our partners.
It’s important to us to do things right and with quality, rather than just doing them quickly and cheaply. To make decisions that we can still stand behind years later.
Retero is a family business. What does that mean to you?
Retero was founded by my father, Helmut, and me. The name Retero is a combination of “Retter” and “Erodieren” and represents our family-oriented mindset and our core expertise in EDM-manufacturing. Today, 20 years later, we are a team of 12 specialized employees. It is very important to me to maintain a family-like atmosphere, regardless of whether someone is part of the family or not.
But it makes me extremely proud that my two sons are now part of Retero as well. It has always been important to me that they forge their own paths, gain experience, and develop both professionally and personally.
Now my goal is to give them the time they need to truly understand the company and learn everything necessary. A handover doesn’t happen overnight. It requires patience and careful planning, which is why we started this process early.
I am convinced that you can only pass on a company if you are able to let go of it and if the next generation is ready to take on responsibility. In this process, I support Joël and Sascha wherever I can.
For which companies and industries is Retero the right partner?
Retero adds particular value where the highest precision, process reliability, and dependability are required. We work for companies in medical technology, the watch industry, mold making, precision mechanics, and other demanding industries.
Our customers appreciate that we don’t just manufacture – we contribute ideas and think proactively with our customers. That we honestly say what is feasible and what isn’t. And that we take responsibility for our work.
How have requirements changed in recent years?
Our industry has become faster, sometimes almost a bit too fast. Price pressure is mounting, and unfortunately, many companies no longer make decisions with a long-term perspective. As a result, quality and durability often take a back seat. We are consciously taking a different path. Sustainable entrepreneurship, regional partnerships, and long-term investments are particularly important to me. I want to make decisions that will still be right ten years from now. Quality, reliability, and trust are values you can’t measure, but you can feel them. And that’s exactly what Retero stands for.
Ultimately, for me, it’s about leading a company I can be proud of, both professionally and personally. And one day being able to say: We’ve done a good job. For our customers, for our team, and for the next generation.