Team Heidelberg India organized a grand gala event on 14 November 2024 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Greater Noida, to bid farewell to Ferdinand Rüesch, senior vice president, global key accounts, Gallus Ferd. Rüesch AG, and anchor shareholder, Heidelberg. Ferdi, as he is fondly known, will officially conclude his tenure at the end of this year.
Themed ‘Ferdi – Celebrating a Visionary’, the event brought together the who’s who of the Indian flexo industry for an evening of nostalgia and heartfelt tributes. The Heidelberg India senior management team, along with the product and marketing team, attended in full strength to honor Ferdi’s extraordinary contributions.
The meticulously organized event was a heartfelt tribute to a leader whose legacy and influence will continue to inspire the industry for years to come.
Prominent industry figures, including Anil Sharma, senior vice president and general manager, Avery Dennison Materials Group – Asia Pacific; Vivek Kapoor, CEO, Creative Labels; and Bhrigav Jain, director, Monarch Graphix, shared their reflections on their business relationships with Rüesch. They fondly recalled his professionalism, vision, and the impact of his rapport on their growth and success.
Pranav Joshi and Vimal Joshi of Temple Packaging felicitated Ferdinand Rüesch and Karin Rüesch, along with Thomas Frank, cluster head – Heidelberg Asia Pacific, and Thomas Schweizer, global head of sales and marketing – Gallus.
Many attendees revisited nostalgic memories of visits to Gallus headquarters in St. Gallen and their participation in Labelexpo events, where Ferdi’s leadership and passion left a lasting impression. A highlight of the evening was a special tabloid, ‘Times of Ferdi,’ prepared by team Heidelberg India. The tabloid captured the beautiful memories of Ferdi and Karin’s three-decade-long relationship with Indian customers, celebrating their shared journey.
In his welcome address, Samir Patkar, president – Heidelberg India, reminisced about his association with Ferdi, stating, “Since the installation of the first Gallus R 200 in India at Good Work Company in 1998, every success has practically carried your stamp. Your rapport with customers is something I deeply admire, fondly referred as the FERDI Magic.”
Thomas Frank, cluster head – Heidelberg Asia Pacific, shared his heartfelt thanks and experiences with Ferdi in his concluding remarks. His note highlighted Ferdi’s role as a guiding force and a visionary who significantly shaped the company’s success and relationships globally.
