Voices of TBAuctions: Ethics, Ownership, and Impact
Welcome to Voices of TBAuctions, an interview series spotlighting the people behind Europe’s leading multi-brand B2B digital auction platform. Through candid conversations with our leaders and team members, we explore who they are, their experiences, insights, and the passion that drives our success.
We are excited to highlight Jean-Pierre Cardoso, CEO of France Médical Enchères (FME), a brand part of TBAuctions. You can watch the video above or, if you prefer, read the full interview below!
How did the company start, and what was its history?
France Médical Enchères (FME) began with a relationship and discussion with Markus Grad (CEO of British Medical Auctions). We attempted to find a solution from clinics and hospitals in France using small medical devices. Just discussed with Markus the idea of developing his business model in France, possibly, and exchanging information about our customer and bidder bases to determine if there is a market there. We quickly discovered an opportunity to serve hospitals and clinics in France and establish a new franchise in the country. The company was created in April 2019. We did our first auction in June 2019. I have been the CEO of France Médical Enchères, having co-founded and developed the company for six years.
What do you envisage for FME’s future?
First, to grow and have a profoundly significant impact on sustainability. Our work must align with the positive impact we can have on the planet. Each time we offer a service to auction a medical device, we help extend the life of that asset and promote sustainability. That’s the vision. It is trying to reduce waste as much as possible and encourage our customers to think twice about “oh, I shall destroy versus I shall sell and auction” with us. An auction is a mechanism that brings together multiple buyers from around the world to propose the best price in the market. And that’s the vision I have to attract many people to join us in France and Belgium, and benefit from all our services.
Which company value do you identify with the most?
Two values always come to mind. The first is ethics. Auctions in France are a regulated activity. We strive to respect the market, our customers, and all services related to auctions. And getting ethics right with customers, third parties, and all our partners is very important. And it brings us confidence that we are developing business in a good way. The second one, I believe, is “act as an owner”. I am an entrepreneur. It’s essential to me that every team member carefully considers how we present our services, how we allocate resources, and how we manage expenses. It means that for both of us, we will be careful to develop the company smoothly. And if you act as an owner, it’s implicit; it means that you should think of it as your own company and have the correct arguments at the right time. I will appreciate that from any employees working for me.
What is it like to work with medical auctions? What are the biggest challenges involved?
There are significant and bad things. The great thing is the auction is surprising. And every month, with every auction we conduct, we strive to do our best to value based on historical data, as well as new medical devices that have not been previously sold. And this is the magic of an auction. We see the price increasing due to bidders’ interest in this type of equipment. By bringing together offer and demand in one marketplace, in one place, and providing the best equipment available in Europe. The downside is that our routine can sometimes be problematic, as we are focusing on a single type of device: a medical device. We try not to fall into this routine to enjoy ourselves when we advertise, market, and auction. This kind of routine in the same niche can be bad sometimes. However, we try to look at the light positively, saying, ‘Okay, we are confident.’ We are familiar with this medical device, and we know it will be sold at a price higher than the one listed. And so it is mitigated thinking about it.
If you were not at FME, what do you think you would be doing in life?
One of my primary goals when I was younger was to be a writer, a novelist, and that is my creative side as an entrepreneur. I wrote two novels in my youth, one of which was published. But as my career evolved and I began managing people, my focus naturally shifted toward building and leading teams. I have been abroad in the US, Germany, and the Middle East, so I have put that behind me. But now I am thinking that maybe in a few months or a few years, I will come back to writing, to get inspired to create an environment with people and a story. That is something that I like.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work to relax or stay inspired?
There is a sport. I was a marathon runner. I have completed nine marathons and 50 half-marathons. Now, I usually run twice a week, bike, and mountain bike with friends. Running… It’s a lonelier sport. However, I also enjoy doing things with a group. Mountain biking is enjoyable, especially in a small group where we go into the forest every weekend and have a great time. That’s what I like to do outside of work. I’m a movie lover; I enjoy general action movies. Or it can be emotional movies. But those are the two main things I usually do. Additionally, I strive to be a good father and a supportive husband to my wife, and to spend quality time with my family. As we get older, this magic time becomes significant to our balance when we have a busy day or a busy week.
Do you have any final thoughts you would like to share?
For those unfamiliar with auctions, it is a marvelous environment. As a member of TBAuctions, it is one of the key channels for selling at the best prices worldwide. We do everything to serve it, simplify it, and be lean so that our customers can receive the money quickly and get the best price for it. Doing that is, you know, growing. It is also good to have the best team with us. We continue to hire talented individuals and welcome you to join France Médical Enchères, becoming part of our team.
