In the C-Suite with Ernestas Mitkus

We are delighted to be interviewing Ernestas Mitkus, CEO of Bang & Bonsomer.

Friisberg began working with the Bang & Bonsomer Group in 2004, when Nijole introduced Ernestas to the organisation. In 2009 he moved into the Food & Ingredients division as Business Unit Director before later becoming Chief Business Development Officer. He is now the CEO of Bang & Bonsomer Group and Ernestas remains deeply appreciative of the role Friisberg played in shaping his career.

Tell us about yourself

I originally joined Bang & Bonsomer Group as the Managing Director for Lithuania and was soon appointed to the board. I now live between Finland and Lithuania.

What is your favourite industry fact?

I like to say that we are the invisible player in B2B. No one knows who we are, but we supply raw materials to industries internationally, we are everywhere but no one sees us! We cover a wide range of areas such as beauty & personal care, construction & industrial materials, environment & industry, food and polymers & packaging.

What is one thing you want someone to learn from you today?

I like to tell people to spend time with a clever person. When I say a clever person I mean yourself. I think it’s really important to take time to learn about yourself, recap, reflect and plan. I often like to do this while I’m walking by the water in Helsinki after work - I find that walking helps to calm my mind and helps me to reflect.

What qualities do you look for in people when hiring?

The main quality I look for is what I call RMA. That means the Right Mental Attitude. This is even more important when hiring executives. With athletes there is a saying that it’s about having 5% talent and 95% the right mental attitude. I totally agree with this saying and believe that you can make anything happen if you have the right attitude!

In such an unstable and competitive job market, what advice would you give to those who are trying to progress to the next level?

The main piece of advice I’d give is to be yourself and be objective to yourself. It’s good to be ambitious but you should also realise what’s expected from you.

Are more companies looking for generalists or specialists?

I think it’s very much specific to the position and on a case-by-case basis. Before I was CEO, I was head of the food division, and I’ve transitioned into this role. My team are specialists, but you need different skills and diversity of thought to add value – here is where the right mental attitude is more important! I think it’s easier to learn new skills and it’s a danger to become too narrow, you should be able to direct yourself to new skills and be adaptable.

Can you recall a time when things haven’t gone to plan and how have you dealt with that?

When something hasn’t gone to plan, I take things back to the beginning. I learn from what didn’t work, look at what I could do differently and try to find other ways to get the best result.  

What changes are you seeing in your industry at the moment?

Currently the markets are volatile, very unstable and as a result of that they are not supporting us. We are present in nine countries globally and sit between consumers and the giants. In such a volatile market you have to be dynamic.

What do you do outside of the office - what are your hobbies?

My favourite hobby is to ski. I try to get away to the mountains 2-3 times a year. I definitely prefer winter holidays a lot more than the summer holidays and would always choose the mountains over the beach!