Jakob Ammann
Jakob Ammann wanted to open his own millwright business, but he needed a location. Not surprisingly he turned to family – in this instance his brother Andreas.
That business, established in Andreas’ home in 1869, has evolved into what today is the Ammann Group. Generations of Jakob’s ancestors have continued to run the business during times of prosperity, economic depression, world wars and newfound freedoms around the world.
What has been consistent through all these successes and struggles is the importance of family. Ammann has been a family business from the time it operated out of Andreas’ home in Madiswil, Switzerland, to the current enterprise that reaches across borders and oceans.
To this day, several key characteristics of the company can be traced all the way back to Jakob. Among them:
Including family in the business
Passing the top leadership position to a family member
Having the strength to make difficult decisions and seize opportunities
Having the vision to make the right decisions
Jakob faced one of those difficult choices in 1878 when evaluating whether to leave the comfort of his start-up space. He decided to make the move and built a mechanical workshop – with a water wheel that was powered by the village stream in Madiswil.
Jakob also started the family succession process that same year, though it likely didn’t cross his mind when he brought his brother Ulrich on board as a first apprentice.