Thierry Roland: Building a culture of trust and well-being

When Apex Fund Services reached the size required to establish a staff delegation, Thierry Roland and his colleagues invited several unions to discuss potential collaboration.

Only ALEBA responded.

“That first meeting with Roberto Mendolia, ALEBA’s President, changed everything,” Thierry recalls. “We immediately felt their professionalism, sincerity, and integrity.”

Elected as a staff delegate in 2019 after the company’s first elections, Thierry has since become a driving force for constructive social dialogue within Apex Fund Services. In 2023, together with his colleagues, he formed an ALEBA list, was elected Vice-President of the staff delegation. He later joined ALEBA’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors, where he is involved in several commissions, and ultimately took on the position of team leader for the paralegal and front office teams at ALEBA.

Under his leadership, the delegation of Apex has focused on improving employees’ quality of life. Key achievements include the introduction of a medical healthcare plan (initiated in 2022 and implemented in 2023), a pension plan (launched in 2023 and rolled out in 2024), as well as weekly well-being sessions aimed at introducing different forms of alternative therapies to help employees better manage stress and achieve balance.

“People often work under constant pressure,” Thierry explains. “By bringing these initiatives directly into the workplace, we make it easier for everyone to take care of themselves.”

Every day, Thierry takes time to connect with colleagues and maintain open communication. “If someone has a concern, we discuss it directly or schedule a one-to-one meeting. Trust takes time to build — but it is the foundation of everything.”

Monthly delegation meetings ensure transparency and sustain an ongoing dialogue between management and employees.

For Thierry, being an ALEBA delegate is more than a role: it’s a commitment to the union’s core spirit: humanity, integrity, and solidarity. He defines ALEBA as a “union of values,” giving the word union a renewed meaning: that of a union built on unity, transparency, and neutrality in the service of all employees.

He firmly believes that every employee should know their rights:

“In Luxembourg, some employers specialise in exploiting subtle loopholes in our labour legislation in their favour. That’s why ALEBA is essential: to protect workers at every step of their professional journey. A union should be like your general practitioner: always there when you need advice or support. Let us not forget: Dura lex, sed lex (“the law is harsh, but it is the law”), which means that a union like ALEBA remains the best ally to every employee.”

Thierry approaches every challenge with energy and empathy. “Being an ALEBA delegate is my mission. Every day, I try to be a better version of myself. None of us can move things alone; together we are stronger.”

His altruistic vision extends beyond the company walls: “We must think of those living in difficult conditions, help them improve their working and living situations, and give them the chance to grow, create, and live better.”

For Thierry, representing others is more than a duty: it is an act of service rooted in empathy and purpose. Through his daily commitment, he continues to build within Apex Fund Services a culture where solidarity, dialogue, and well-being thrive, embodying the very spirit of ALEBA: human, united, and forward-looking.