Mârtins Drusts, Head of Hansa Leasing Factoring Department

Why have you been awarded the badge of honour?
For establishing and developing of the regional leasing business. We started two and half years ago when only three per cent of our business were generated outside Riga. Half of the population lives in the capital, and the leasing business was concentrated in Riga. We decided that we wanted the market to spread outside Riga as well.

What kind of goods are mostly purchased on the leasing basis in regions?
The leader is a car market, followed by commercial transport and industrial leasing.

How did you start your career in the world of finance?
For some reason I chose to study finance.

For some reason?
Yes. In secondary school I did a lot of calculations and understood that it’s OK, that I want to be close to those numbers and figures.
Maybe not so close as in chemistry of physics, but close enough. I started economics, and in the third and the fourth year I majored in finance and crediting. Actually my career started as a telesales person, where my task was to sell exclusive discount cards; then followed a job at a Finnish company - selling of mobile phone accessories to various mobile phone retailers – and then I joined Hansa Leasing.

As simple as that – then joined…?
The former manager from the Finnish company changed his job and joined Hansa Leasing and he offered a job to me as well. I was the EGO card manager and my task was to establish contacts with traders, to find the shops who would be prepared to accept and use the EGO card. I travelled throughout Latvia with presentations. I really enjoyed it!

Everything was evolving, the management of the unit changed, new account managers joined. I had become some kind of an intermediate stage between the management and the new account managers, as I had been longer with the company than its new Head. I was a senior manager. And then came the moment when I realised – something has to be changed.

At that time Hansabanka acquired Hansa Leasing shares and both companies developed closer cooperation. They needed somebody who would coordinate things on behalf of Hansa Leasing, and that job was offered to me. After certain development approximately in one year it became clear that there was a need for a separate regional department. I couldn’t believe that I would become the head of unit. That was a big step forward! We thoroughly worked on developing of the regional concept and elaborated several versions. I am glad that the Board of Hansabanka supported our ideas. It is characteristic of this enterprise – if you really work hard, you can succeed, because you get support and assistance.

What keeps you in Hansa Leasing?
The fact that I have new challenges every two years. During these five and a half years I've I have achieved a lot and I was never bored. The management notices when there is a need for changes and proposes new challenges.