Merck is a scientific and technological leader in healthcare, pharma and chemicals, and its CFO for Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic - Martin Spišák – goes his own way. He conducts himself as expected of a contemporary business leader, having inspired those around him for over two decades. Here he talks about the company, as well as real estate and ESG.
Merck has been based at J&T Real Estate’s (JTRE) prestigious River Park for fourteen years - do you and your colleagues feel at home here?
My colleagues like this attractive location – it shows we care about them, it’s central but not overcrowded and the traffic is light. And over the long time that we’ve been based here, our activities have naturally also evolved. At our 1,600 sqm of office space we’ve developed an international expert team in the Cyber Security Centre and other IT areas, and we supervise over 60,000 employee computers across the world – all whilst upholding the strictest security standards
And why this location? You were attracted by the JTRE brand?
Transport accessibility was certainly key – we’re just ten minutes' walk from the city centre. And the nearby motorway connections give fast access to the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary. Both the prime location and JTRE’s approach played a significant role, and if we seek office space again these factors would influence our decision. JTRE’s portfolio includes standard as well as designer spaces – the latter will be available this summer at River Park. I would recommend this developer to any company that wants to showcase that they prioritise employees’ needs and want to attract new talent. Prestige also plays a role, as we consider our office to be higher standard - not an ostentatious luxury - with a defining characteristic of looking great. Our longevity here demonstrates that we made the right call in selecting this location.
JTRE leverages the skills of leading and award-winning designers and architects. Does your employees’ workplace comfort boost their loyalty?
Yes I would say so, although many other factors are also influential. When we were discussing these premises, I visited Merck in Taiwan - I was interested that all global companies operating there prioritise feng shui. This inspired me to have our headquarters here fitted out in accordance with this noble philosophy, and JTRE’s experts supported us throughout the journey.
Can you expand on that?
Certain features in my office are subtly discreet…but a feng shui expert would identify them. We’re on the eighth floor - a number which is popular in China because it represents prosperity and good luck. Mandarin depicts ‘eight’ with two vertical lines that represent an open door to happiness. My office chair has back protection and is orientated towards the door. The building’s north-facing entrance and riverside location also play a role in this philosophy.
Post-pandemic, many employees were reluctant to return to their workplaces. Has your River Park contemporary office in a mixed-use location bucked this trend?
Our colleagues can work flexibly: three days in the office and two days at home. It’s fine when someone wants/needs to be office-based all week, and we also have completely autonomous employees who work remotely due to their tasks. Yet when strategic decisions need to be made, the team should come together.
What’s the main benefit of such mixed-use areas?
They avoid the problem that plagues typical American downtown areas – which become like ghost towns after dusk when employees go home. In contrast, here it’s lively both during the day and evening. In the summer, employees can enjoy lunch, chat and relax by the Danube - fresh air contributes to a better mood and general well-being at work.
When selecting your River Park office, were you swayed by JTRE’s commitment to sustainability and ESG?
Merck values its responsibilities towards the community and the environment. Our zero waste office project includes the replacement of individual waste bins with centralised sorting collection points on corridors, and our company car policy aims to reduce CO2 emissions. Taking small steps inspire others, such as light sensors and water savers in the WCs. We’re delighted that JTRE has recently received approval to install e-car chargers in the car parks.
