Pest Control Expert

Pest Control Expert - Jürgen Althoff

Jürgen Althoff, Biology Graduate, has been Technical Director of Rentokil since 1993. As one of Germany’s leading pest control experts and an authority on the problems that pests can cause he’s constantly surprised by how lightly some businesses still take the risks.

What got you interested in pest control in the first place?
What was your first job in Rentokil and when did you start?
How long have you been Technical Director?
What's the most enjoyable part of your job…?
…and what's the biggest challenge?
What do you see as the biggest challenge for the pest control industry in the next 5 years?
I understand you are interested in the Environment. Can you bring any of that interest into your job?
Your department undertakes many roles including training and quality control. What is the biggest job they face in the next year or so?

What got you interested in pest control in the first place?

I studied zoology with a special focus on entomology, and wrote a dissertation on insects during my studies. The electron microscope and our specimen rooms were constantly plagued by cockroaches, so I took on the task of getting them under control. Also during my studies, I started putting together extensive collections of data and specimens on wood-destroying beetles. After graduating, I applied for positions at a number of companies, including international pest control corporations. When Rentokil offered me a job, I took the opportunity.

What was your first job in Rentokil and when did you start?

I began in 1980 as a trainer, troubleshooter and author of manuals. My first assignment was to free a high-shelf warehouse of black rats. More than 300 of the animals had set up housekeeping … At that point, the customer knew nothing about the living habits of this particular type of rat, which explained why his attempts to get rid of them all failed.

How long have you been Technical Director?

After seven years as a Division Manager, I was appointed Technical Director in 1993. The position was created in response to the increasing complexity and level of specialisation in pest control – both in training and practice – in Germany. The situation called for a new department.

What's the most enjoyable part of your job…?

The extreme diversity of the tasks and continuous challenges, the balancing act between different disciplines, searching for solutions in cooperation with customers, authorities and staff, and last but not least: working with an experienced team of knowledgeable and creative colleagues.

…and what's the biggest challenge?

Developing new products and methods that successively put us in an even better position to fulfil our main, overriding task: giving no chance to pests while at the same time avoiding all hazards to people and their property. This is also reflected in the increasingly strict legal regulations. In addition, certain types of pest control are getting more and difficult in a number of areas.

What do you see as the biggest challenge for the pest control industry in the next 5 years?

Giving the pest control user – that is, the customer – assurances that today’s active substances are safe, provided they are used properly. The potential impact that the activities of the pest control industry have on the environment will continue to be one of the major issues we will need to address. We have to design our methods, products and training literature to minimise risk for people, pets, food stocks and other materials. Major efforts in this area have led to considerable accomplishments, which unfortunately aren’t reflected in the media coverage – scandals often take priority over facts. This means a big challenge for commercial customers, because they simply can’t afford to have pests on their premises.

I understand you are interested in the Environment. Can you bring any of that interest into your job?

Yes, certainly, although I wouldn’t have thought so at first. But the pests we seek to control don’t generally live in the wild, but rather in man-made buildings and structures. Pests, say, in grain silos, are no more part of wildlife than are domesticated animals on farms. Knowledge of the biology, habits, signs of and evidence left by animals, whether insects or vertebrates, is essential if we are to understand how they can be controlled. This is also the case if we are to avoid causing damage to the environment and non-target species. Many in the pest control industry have a wider interest in natural history either through field sports or membership of one or more of the natural history organisations.

Your department undertakes many roles including training and quality control. What is the biggest job they face in the next year or so?

Rentokil Pest Control has introduced several new systems designed to ensure our customers receive the best service possible. Our priority is the spread of good practice through the development of the individual. That’s why Rentokil holds thousands of man-days of staff training every year. Despite this, our greatest challenge for tomorrow and beyond will remain keeping our staff well trained. Our biggest asset is the knowledge and skills of our Service Technicians, Supervisors, Account Managers and Biologists. We’re working on it constantly.

Technology & Service