José Ribau Esteves
João de Sousa Rodolfo
José Augusto Seca
CEO of Topázio
The challenges of Topázio for the 21st century have been passed onto him. In 2012 he took over the management of a 140-year-old company, until then run by the family that had founded it, and now the challenge of combining tradition with innovation is his. He had to get through one of the most difficult times for the company, a devastating fire in the factory, but it was at that moment that he realised his workers were his greatest allies. He does not forget them, therefore, when naming Topázio’s greatest asset, guaranteeing that they are the true soul of this age-old business, specialised in silverware.
How did you come to join Topázio, a family business?
I had studied finance; I was aware of an opening at Topázio and I decided to apply. I joined in 1992, at the age of 30, to head the financial department. Eight years later, I took on the position of Finance and Administration Management, which I held until the moment I joined the Board of Directors.
Were you surprised that the family decided to invite you to become its CEO?
Topázio had experienced fantastic growth with the final management by the family, in the end of the 1990s, when it reached its peak, exceeding 15 million Euros turnover and 300 employees. By around 2005, the difficulties of the unfavorable economic situation started to be felt, which caused a sharp drop in turnover. The management had no alternative but to begin a restructuring process, by reducing employees by more than 70%. Somehow, it had the merit of restructuring the company before inviting other people to continue its management. As for choosing me, I think this has to do with the fact that I had always worked closely with the previous management and very closely with all the family members who worked at Topázio.
«The greatest asset of the Topázio is, undoubtedly, its workers, in particular its craftsmen»
In 2014 there was a fire that destroyed the factory. How do you recover from something like that?
With a spirit of mutual support and a great sense of resilience on the part of all the employees, who like to see Topázio as their second family and who are able to unite around a common goal, willing to give everything to overcome adversity, as was the case with the fire.
What can a company that has been around for over 140 years do to reach younger generations?
The younger generations have heard their grandparents and parents talk about Topázio, always associating with a range of products that are more classic. They don’t know about Topázio’s contemporary side, as a brand that produces and sells a wide range of products for younger consumers, such as our jewellery collections. And we’re changing that.
What do you think is Topázio’s greatest asset?
It is, undoubtedly, its workers, in particular its craftsmen. It is they who, through the quality of the workmanship in the pieces, ensure that the most discerning customers stay loyal to Topázio, which remains a leading name in the production of silverware. By all rights they should be called artists.
