ensto today | ENSTO IN FRANCE in Ensto FRANCE As the Ensto family expands in France, its challenge is to be international and French at the very same time. Scott Diel Shutterstock We are a one-hundred percent French company in France,” says Timo Luukkainen, President and CEO of Ensto, of the company’s philosophy when it comes to doing business abroad. Three years ago, Ensto was named the best foreign company in Southern France by the Chamber of Commerce for Southwestern France. “What a great credit to our team,” says Luukkainen. “Their spirit is so positive that it got acknowledged.” That spirit has paid off: increased sales and bottom line results have followed closely. Since entering France a decade ago, the number of employees has doubled to over 300, and France is now the second biggest overall market for the company after Finland. First steps Ten years ago Ensto made its first investment in the region, purchasing a French family company that manufactured products that used EnstoNet components. Originally, this company served as an extension of Ensto’s export business. Five years ago Ensto decided to take a larger position in the market. “We ana-lyzed the general situation and decided what we wanted to improve upon,” says Luukkainen. Ensto wanted new technologies in intelligent networks and smart grids, plus an industrial base in a big home market. Novexia fit those requirements. Not only did it have advanced technology in network automation, but it was a profitable company with Europe’s biggest energy company, EDF, as its client. “Acquiring a profitable company,” says Luukkainen, “gives you the confidence to keep investing.” Ensto: more French than you realize In the past four years, Ensto Novexia sales have grown significantly. “We had a bit over 20 million euros in turnover in 2010 and we’re looking at over 40 million in 2015,” notes Luukkainen. Ensto Novexia has opened new markets in Sri Lanka, North Africa, Latin America, and network automation product offerings are being expanded to the UK. Today, combined turnover for all Ensto companies in France is around 60 mil-lion euros. Additionally, of Ensto Group’s top 10 customers, half are French owned. Ensto is more closely linked to France than most would realize. Vive la différence France, despite its multinational economy and omnipresence in world markets, is not a culture where English is embraced. “No one in France speaks English,” an Ensto Today writer heard more than once on his trip, despite the fact that Ensto employees speak very proficient English. This was the Gallic way of saying they prefer bad French to less-than-perfect English. In addition to language differences, since the time of Louis XIV, the state has played a more prominent role in commerce than in northern European countries. Tax legislation differs, with France offering incentives to attract innovative compa-nies. “The government has made it very attractive to bring R&D to France,” says Luukkainen. “This wasn’t primary for Ensto, but it’s highly appreciated.” 12 Bordeaux 6. “
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