Since he is thirteen, he wants to be a zoo Director

In half a year is Severin addresses are one of the most famous people in Zurich. But at the Moment he thinks he's covered and is shielded by his future employers. Interviews, direct contact with the future the Zurich zoo is not possible. His quotes in the media release, in which the Zoo announced his choice, are polite, the attached resume is formally held. No Chance to guess, how this man ticks.

"We want to give him some rest before the storm," says Zoo Chairman of the Board Martin Naville this restraint. So that he could make with his current employer, the Wuppertal Zoo, a controlled Handover.

Of the rest can be no question. Arne Lawrenz, Director of the zoo in Wuppertal, where Dressen is the Zoological Director and Deputy Director, is pleased about the career of his protege. But he also says: "For me, it is a shame that he would go so soon. I'm still trying to bring as much as possible with him to the end." And we have asked to make us a picture of the future Zurich zoo Director.

zookeeper with a PhD

there is talk of a 31-year-old man, so Naville, is to lead the Zurich Zoo successfully in the next epoch. Dressen grew up in Aachen, I worked in various Zoos as an animal Keeper and assistant. He has studied in London and Oxford doing his PhD. In an Argentine children's home, he has done a civil service, and there are about 60 Jack-of-school care. He has a Master's degree in Ecology, Evolution and conservation, a gun license and a diving certificate. He speaks fluent English and Spanish and has a distended for several projects to a successful sponsorship. And he is the father of a small son.

Seemingly a Jack of all trades – what his Handicap is? Zoopräsident Naville must not think for a long time: "He is young and a German." He lifts the shoulders and adds, smiling: "I am married to a German." But if ever in doubt as to the choice Dressens had been expressed, it was the most frequently heard criticism that it had come to his ears.

He continues: At the beginning of the search, he would have had on a loved one, a 40-year-old Swiss woman with comparable Know-how. "But, Lord, the best candidate was Dressen clear."

131 applications

Dressen is very young. A 31-to-Year result in an Institution such as the Zurich Zoo? "We deliberately wanted someone who can shape our Zoo again for a longer period of time," says Naville. And: "From the CV and by the maturity he seems to have quite a lot of older than years." The wirbligen-in-chief of the Swiss-American chamber of Commerce, the width of Dressens training visibly impressed.

131 applications were received at the Zurich Zoo for the position of zoodirek Board. 80 the high requirements fulfilled, 9 remained after a first selection round left. You had to speak in two languages, a three-minute selfie video to predetermined questions. Dressen fact, according to Naville confident, personable and persuasive. There are two rounds of talks and an all-day Assessment followed. "He swung clear obenaus, the choice fell unanimously on him," says Naville.

Dressens current boss describes him as "dynamic, very structured, very strategically placed". And he ticke, what relates to the task and future of Zoos, just like him. What this means, in turn, He is ticking just like Alex Rübel. Because Arne Lawrenz referred to the Zurich zoo Director as his Mentor, as his Idol. The Zoo of Zurich, belong undoubtedly to the best in the world. "We play in a different League," says Lawrenz.

The Wuppertal Zoo is the Size and the number of species of animals with the Zoo of Zurich is comparable, but has only half as many visitors. He enjoys in the professional world, a good reputation. The open-air aviary, which opened in spring, is regarded as exemplary. This facility was characterized according to Lawrenz significantly from Dressen.

German instead of Ur-Zurich

addresses to be fit for the Champions League? Can addresses in the big foot Rübels footsteps? This was only 35 when he became the Director of the zoo, but he was in many respects a home-grown talent. He is maternal and the paternal side from a long-established Zurich family. It is not a coincidence since 2011, he is guildmaster of the Zunft zur Saffran. Rübel an avid scout scout name "Chüngel was". He is well connected. And he knew when he took office in 1991, the Zurich Zoo like the back of his hand, he was previously there as a veterinarian working. Is Dressen – from Zurich's navel point of view – an ambitious German zoologist, without reference to Zurich.

Fits the? The Berlin Arne Lawrenz may say: "He is not a German, as you arrive in Switzerland." He could be the judge of that, because he had had a lot of friends in Switzerland, "schweizaffin". Dressen was not research-based on-the-go, more reserved. Not a cliché-Jiffy-Zack Zack-German, then? "From his career he is influenced multi-cultural, more English, is also married to an Englishwoman." He'll make it, that the Swiss would like it is Lawrenz convinced. "If not him, then no one will."

Always a goal in sight

The question now goes to Naville: Can it succeed Dressen, to represent the Zurich Zoo in all layers of the population, children and Senior citizens, as this was Rübel so masterfully? There is still no Rübel fell from the sky – so it could be naville's statement of response. "Alex Rübel, he was the Director of the zoo, not the Alex Rübel today."

Dressen was to Occur and deal with Rübel not so dissimilar. Again, the adjective is the first characteristic of "restrained". Followed by "considered". Dressen was incredibly well prepared for the interview, but didn't all talk the same talk. "He was the first to consider briefly, then, objectively, and competently answered and will tell us his ideas for the Zoo in the future will be presented." These ideas were innovative, fussten but on the strong Foundation we have built Rübel.

There is a Rübel yet another Parallel: both was already clear early on what you want to be, namely, the Director of the zoo. Severin Dressen decided to three-ten to run once a large Zoo, and took the immediately. A few months later, he worked as an assistant zookeeper in the Zoo of Cologne, and all his further activities were directed at this goal. Now 31, he has achieved it.

Created: 11.11.2019, 21:04 Uhr