Ratko Kupresak, Director General of Jaffa - I choose sweeter way

(Ratko Kupresak)

Basketball has given him decisiveness, banking endowed him with the financial vision of business, mechanical engineering supplied him with preciseness, while the work on the previous job provided him experience in the confectionery industry. He will show us in the following period how the excellence can be improved. Four months ago, Ratko Kupresak assumed the position of the Director General of the Crvenka-based company that also produces his favorite candy - "Jaffa".

- The reason why I have made the decision to leave a very strong company like Bambi Banat is a human challenge to improve something and make something new. Jaffa will be able to use my long-time experience in the confectionery industry, primarily, in the factory's appearance in the market, which is, in my opinion, crucial for development of a company – Ratko Kupresak, the Director General of Jaffa, says at the beginning of the interview for eKapija.

Kupresak promises to those with a sweet tooth that Jaffa's product portfolio will be expanded by the end of the year to include many sweet surprises in the range of waffle products, O'cake biscuits, while some new categories of confectioners will be introduced next year.

He says he quickly got used to the work at Jaffa and that his relationship with the employees, based on trust and openness, is the same as in the company where he worked for more than 10 years. At first sight, people may get the impression that he is strong and serious, but they very soon notice that he is direct and emotional.

- The opinion that is often heard is that emotions should not be made a part of the business, but my opinion is that a man should put certain dose of emotions in the business because it is the only way for him to feel both victory and defeat.

If you ask him today what's his next business goal, he will say "to develop Jaffa to reach some unthinkable limits".

In each company he has worked for so far he started from the standpoint that he would go straight to retirement from that company.

Experience and knowledge

He started working at the age of 22 in his hometown Pozarevac. He did not have classical student days since he studied while he was working.

- I first worked at Credibel Bank in the retail sector. I changed several jobs within the bank until I assumed the position of the Director of the branch office in Pozarevac and stayed there for two years. I learned the basic principles of financial operations in that period. I still remember some thoughts and sentences we were exchanging at the time.

When he was 28, he moved from the bank to Bambi where he spent the next 12 years, first as the Head of Procurements, then the Sales Manager, until he assumed the position of the Sales Director.

- The time I spent in Bambi helped me a lot because I gained experience and matured in a business sense. In association with Spanish Global Praxis, we made the biggest turn and progress in Bambi's market appearance.

When Bambi moved the headquarters from Pozarevac to Belgrade, he traveled every day from Pozarevac to Belgrade for some time, and then he moved with his family to the capital city.

- It may sound as a phrase or demagogic approach, but it is definitely true that behind every successful person is his family.

Kupres, Pozarevac, Belgrade

- Surname Kupresak dates back to 200 years ago and originates from Kupres in Bosnia. The last name of my ancestors was Markovic and, during the migrations that were characteristic feature of that time, they moved from to Sipovo near Mrkonjic Grad and there they got surname Kupresak because they came from Kupres. They later moved to Pozarevac where I was born.

He has been interested in technology ever since he was a kid. Although it is his vocation, he has never worked on anything that required either the diploma in electrical engineering or the title of graduate mechanical engineer, both of which he has.

- Education in technical sciences has helped me in my jobs, although it does not have anything to do with my professional engagement at first sight. The confectionery industry is rich with inventions and constant development of such company is very important. With the knowledge of mechanics, it is possible to understand certain processes in a better way, for example, investments, development projects, etc.

In order to reconcile education and job, he became a postgraduate student at the Faculty of Economy in Novi Sad, and he should defend his Master's thesis named "Corporate Restructuring in Transition Countries - Economic and Financial Aspects".

He says that his first and, maybe, the most important decision was to stop playing basketball professionally and commit himself to education, although he even played basketball for Crvena Zvezda as a junior.

- When I was 18, I decided not to continue playing basketball professionally. I realized that I would not find a long-time satisfaction in sports. My parents have supported my decisions, but they have advised me decide for myself which way to take in order not to have them directing my life. I think I did not make the wrong choice.

Ratko Kupresak still loves to play street basketball with his friends. He sometimes play tennis as well. He loves to watch all kinds of sports matches on TV. While he was living in Pozarevac, he was the President of women's handball club Bambi-Mladi Radnik.

Everything is possible if wished for

- Everything in life is achievable, no matter how difficult it may seem, only if you believe enough in success - Kupresak points out and adds that the same goes for both business and private life.

CEO of Jaffa is of the opinion that time can be found for everything, primarily for those who you love, and it is only up to an individual if he wants to get organized.

- In both private life and business, a man must set priorities and respect them. I am one of those people who want everything now, but I am not impatient. Sometimes I start several jobs that are physically impossible to complete and the working day lasts longer than it should, even in the home atmosphere. I am completely aware of the fact that all that is just the choice of each of us.

He does his best to spent every free moment with his family - his wife and two daughters.

Ratko Kupresak loves to travel both on business and privately. When traveling with his family, he never goes to the same destination twice because he wants to visit as many different places as possible.

- All places are beautiful when you go on vacation with the people you love, especially when you go with the family. Whenever I have few days off during the year, me and my family go to a mountain, most usually Zlatibor.

He is most impressed with Paris and Vienna where he would even be able to live.

- Although these two are quite different cities, they provide me with the feeling of sublimity and the possibility of beautiful living.

Supporter of non-extreme adventurism

He prefers big cities to small towns because the former offers numerous possibilities for everyday life and interesting places to spend time at.

Ada when the weather is fine, Kalemegdan in the afternoon and evening hours, and his neighborhood in the vicinity of St. Sava Temple - are his favorite places in Belgrade for a walk with the family.

Ratko Kupresak says he is not a person who goes out to noisy and crowded places. He loves to spend time in a restaurant or a good coffee shop with his family or friends.

- When the company is good, any place is good. We love to go to good restaurants.

He admits he is a gourmet and that he loves to try the specialties of different cuisines.

- I love to eat and love to try everything. I am completely opposite to my own brotner who does not like to try different food and who always knows in advance what to order - 10 kebabs.

Kupresak is of the opinion that a man needs to try many things in life in general and then stick to what suits him the best.

Limited, non-extreme, adventurism in life has always made him rethink whether something is good or not.

- Do we have the same interests is not that important, but whatever we talk about should be based on sincerity and mutual trust.

His position is that every man has the same quantity of luck and that the games of chance are only wasting of time. Kupresak is of the opinion that, although more difficult, the sweeter way is the one you fought for than the one offered to you. He is now happy with everything he has, he wants to enjoy that and increase that happiness with everyday small pleasures.