A series of one-to-one interviews with leaders of some of Europe’s best known industrial and technology companies. We ask these CEOs and Chairs about their early lives, careers, experiences and leadership lessons. We talk about the challenges of the sectors they are working in, the opportunities they see on the horizon and gauge their views on some of the burning topics of our time.
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BONUS EPISODE with "Mr Single Market": Enrico Letta (00:29:13)
In April of this year, former Italian Prime Minister and current President of the Jacques Delors Institute, Enrico Letta released his much awaited report "Much more than a Market". It was the result of nearly a year's work - involving over 400 meetings with stakeholders across Europe - and received a lot of media coverage and attention from anyone who works in EU public affairs and policymaking. Across its 144 pages, the report highlights how the now 30 year old Single Market is incomplete,...
Leonhard Birnbaum, CEO of E.ON on advancing Europe's energy transition (00:36:07)
Leonhard Birnbaum grew up in the industrial town of Ludwigshafen, Germany surrounded by industry. Later, after studying chemical engineering at university, he started his career in consulting, gradually gravitating towards the energy sector, first at RWE, then at E.ON. As the CEO of E.ON since 2021, he is leading one of Europe’s largest operators of energy networks and infrastructure, providing services to around 47 million customers. In this episode, we discuss his early life, how his caree...
Benoît Potier, Chairman of Air Liquide (00:41:08)
During his engineering studies at Ecole Centrale Paris, Benoît Potier was active in the theatre group, enjoying it to such an extent that he even considered becoming a professional actor. Ultimately however, his decision to forge a career in industry instead proved to be the right one, as he has spent his entire career at Europe's leading industrial gases company: Air Liquide. In the first episode of Season 3, we discuss his early life, how his career path progressed all the way to the...
Leif Johansson, the polymath of Swedish enterprise (00:48:54)
Leif Johansson initially wanted to be a rock guitarist. That ambition morphed into wanting to become a professor of physics. But somewhere along the way, he was drawn into business and found an endless avenue for his curiosity. He turned out to be quite good at business too, taking on his first leadership role at Husqvarna Motorcycles, at the age of 27. Over the decades that followed he led companies making furniture (FACIT), household appliances (Electrolux), buses, construction vehicles &am...
Dr Martin Brudermüller & Dr Lars Frolund on Innovation made in Europe (00:47:48)
As ERT prepares to launch a new publication about innovation, we thought it could be interesting to do an episode where we discuss that very subject. So, we brought together a leader of one of Europe’s most significant industrial companies - Dr Martin Brudermüller, CEO of BASF SE - and a top drawer academic and deep tech investment expert - Dr Lars Frolund of M.I.T. and the European Innovation Council. Over the course of this episode, we discuss why innovation matters, how Europe ...
Hilde Merete Aasheim, President & CEO of Norsk Hydro (00:42:05)
We talk with Hilde Aasheim Merete, the President and CEO of Norsk Hydro, the Norwegian aluminium and energy company, with operations worldwide. She talks about how her first summer job in a bakery put her on the path to working in business, the career moves that followed – at some inopportune moments – and the opportunities and challenges she has faced on her way to the top of Norsk Hydro and indeed, in that role. Episode 12 – Show Notes 21st Century Industrialists is produced by ERT...
Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Group (00:37:10)
In this episode, we talk with someone is leading the transformation of one of the most recognised car companies in the world: Ola Källenius, the CEO of Mercedes-Benz Group. He has spent his entire career working in various depts of the legendary car company, culminating in his appointment to the top role in 2019 – the first non-German national to lead the company. Over the course of our conversation, he talks openly about his early life in Sweden, his rise through Mercedes-Benz, those early m...
Jonathan Symonds, Chairman of GSK (00:42:19)
In this latest episode, we talk with Sir Jonathan Symonds, the Chairman of GSK. A maven of the bridge between life sciences and finance, he spoke with us about his upbringing in the UK, his first career track in accountancy & consulting, the cultural lessons he learned working on mergers such as the one that brought Astra and Zeneca together and the challenges & joys of changing career direction numerous times. It's an episode rich in inspiration and wisdom - enjoy! Episode 10...
Jean-Paul Agon, Chairman of L'Oréal (00:40:35)
We kick off Season 2 with Jean-Paul Agon, long-standing Member of ERT and French business leader synonymous with one of France’s best known worldwide consumer brands: L’Oréal. We talk about beginnings, perceptions of beauty, crises, corporate strategy and the challenge of succeeding a legend. Episode 9 – Show Notes 21st Century Industrialists is produced by ERT and presented by Robert O'Meara. Audio Production by Tessa Torrekens at Uitgesproken and Stijn Vandeputte. Audio Reco...
Thomas Leysen, Chairman of Umicore, Mediahuis & Royal DSM (00:52:06)
Belgian industrialist Thomas Leysen tells us about his upbringing and early interest in business, media and environmental issues. As the chairman of businesses in a range of different sectors, we also hear about the strategic decisions that informed Union Miniere’s transformation into Umicore, the expansion of Mediahuis into a significant player in the European news media sector and his experience overseeing the board of the Dutch multinational Royal DSM. He also shares his views on the Europ...
Paulo Azevedo, Chairman of Sonae Group (00:52:21)
Paulo Azevedo tells us about growing up in Portugal and England and the various stages of his ascent to the role of Chairman of the Portuguese conglomerate, Sonae Group. We talk about what drives his belief in people and why reskilling and lifelong learning matter so much to him. He also explains how he researches new interests every few years, his fascination with biodiversity and reveals what he is planning to learn next. Episode 7 – Show Notes 21st Century Industrialists is produc...
Alessandro Profumo, CEO of Leonardo (00:37:52)
Alessandro Profumo talks about his teenage passion for basketball, his early start in banking, his time in consulting and more recent move into aviation and security, as the CEO of the Italian company, Leonardo. We also discuss the pressure on aviation in a time of green transition and nascent post-COVID recovery; the promising opportunities presented by the era of big data; his view on intensifying security threats and why leaders need people with soft skills. Episode 6 – Show ...
Nancy McKinstry - ERT Vice-Chair and Chair & CEO of Wolters Kluwer (00:40:54)
Nancy McKinstry talks about her childhood in rural Connecticut, her path from consulting into the world of publishing and the strategy she put in place at the 185 year old company Wolters Kluwers to transform it into the leading information services company it is today. She also shares her thoughts on the importance of resilience, lifelong learning and why she has become an advocate of quotas to advance diversity in the workplace. Episode 5 – Show Notes 21st Century Industrialists is prod...
Stefan Oschmann, former-Chairman & CEO of Merck Group (00:43:58)
We sat down with Stefan Oschmann, former-Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of the global biopharma company Merck Group, before he moved to the new role of Chair of the Board & Independent Director at UCB. In wide-ranging conversation on his last day at Merck Group, he talks about what attracted him to work in science, why the public and private sectors need to build more trust and the opportunities that linked open data presents for solving some of societies biggest problems. He al...
Tony Smurfit, CEO of Smurfit Kappa Group (00:44:23)
Tony Smurfit talks about his interest in business from an early age and what it was like growing up in a family synonymous with enterprise. He shares his insights on leadership during challenging times, what innovation looks like in the packaging business and why inflation is next disruption coming over the horizon. Episode 3 – Show Notes 21st Century Industrialists is produced by ERT and presented by Robert O'Meara. Audio Production, Mixing & Editing by Stijn Vandeputte, Laure Balcaen a...
Dr Ilham Kadri, CEO & President of Solvay (00:44:10)
Ilham Kadri talks about her humble upbringing in Casablanca, her professional start in industry, some of the roles she took on earlier in her career and what she learned. She also tells us about her approach to transforming the 158 year old Belgian industrial company, Solvay and shares her thoughts on how inclusion & diversity can gain more scale. Episode 2 – Show Notes 21st Century Industrialists is produced by ERT and hosted by Robert O'Meara. This episode was recorded by Mathieu Save...
Carl-Henric Svanberg, ERT Chair & Chairman of Volvo Group (00:49:31)
In a very open conversation, Carl-Henric Svanberg talks about his upbringing in Sweden and shares lessons he learned from his experiences at the helm of companies in many industrial sectors, including Assa Abloy, Ericsson, BP and his current role at Volvo Group. Show Notes 21st Century Industrialists is produced by ERT and hosted by Robert O'Meara. Audio Production, Mixing & Editing by Stijn Vandeputte, Laure Balcaen and Tom Giles at House of Media. The Sound Recordist in Stockhol...
