As a child in Austria, Thomas Baumgartner bundled unwanted toys into mystery bags and sold them to classmates. Buyers could not see what was inside—they simply paid and took their chances. He cleared out old toys and earned spending money, he tells us. The story is lighthearted, but it reveals something enduring: an instinct to create value, move decisively, and keep looking for the next opportunity.
That same mindset has shaped a career spent inside the voestalpine group. Baumgartner began in controlling roles in Austria, where he developed an early view of finance as a forward-looking discipline. A controller, he explains, is the person spotting the iceberg ahead, while others are still measuring the water temperature. The distinction matters. For him, finance was never only about recording results—it was about anticipating scenarios and helping steer the business.
Read MoreA promotion to the UK expanded that perspective. Suddenly, he was navigating unfamiliar pension systems, new tax rules, and a different business culture, he tells us. The move required more than technical knowledge. It demanded adaptation. Over time, he learned that direct leadership styles do not travel seamlessly across borders, and he evolved toward a more collaborative approach built on listening and buy-in.
Today, as CFO of voestalpine Metsec plc, he applies that same blend of discipline and curiosity. The company invests heavily in certifications, fire testing, and trusted solutions rather than competing only on price, he tells us. He has also championed internal AI Test Labs to help employees explore new tools and generate ideas from the ground up. “Stand still is not an option,” he tells us.
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CFOTL: This is an interesting group of companies. I was careful with my pronunciation—voestalpine Metsec. Tell us about this company. What sets it apart from other companies, and how is it organized? Help us better understand.
Baumgartner: In the UK, everyone knows us simply as Metsec, as in metal sections. In fact, “Metsec” has become a generic term here for a steel section. We are the market leader in the UK, and because of that, we place a strong focus on innovation, accreditations, and certifications. Whenever new standards emerge—whether ISO 27001, ISO 45001, or others—we pursue them because we need to be the safe pair of hands, the trusted supplier for our customers.
Read MoreBaumgartner: We also focus heavily on product leadership—developing new products, new systems, and new processes. More recently, we’ve invested significantly in artificial intelligence. For us, standing still is not an option. We are always asking what else we can do and how we can get closer to the customer.
Baumgartner: We don’t want customers choosing us only on price. If they want the cheapest option, they can always buy elsewhere. What we offer are tried-and-tested solutions. We invest heavily in fire testing, acoustic testing, and doing things with integrity. Everything we do is fully certified and properly executed. If someone wants cheap and cheerful, they can go elsewhere.
CFOTL: You mentioned the span of time you’ve been with this company. What prompted your move to the UK? Was it a promotion? What happened there?
Baumgartner: Yes, it was a promotion. If you ask a young person whether they’d like the opportunity to move to another country, the answer is usually yes. But when it actually happens, you realize you are changing everything—leaving friends, changing bank accounts, learning a new tax system, and adjusting to a completely different environment. You don’t even know where to buy Christmas presents. Everything is different.
Baumgartner: But when you’re young, you do it. One of my mottos is: try and fail, but never fail to try. I made the move, and 17 years later I’m still here in the UK and still enjoying it.
voestalpine Metsec plc | www.metsec.com | West Midlands, United Kingdom