21st Century Industrialists

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, w...

17 Heinä 202429min

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 career ...

30 Touko 202436min

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 r...

17 Huhti 202441min

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 &amp...

19 Touko 202348min

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 ...

15 Maalis 202347min

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 Notes21st Century Industrialists is produced by ERT and...

15 Joulu 202242min

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 mo...

16 Marras 202237min

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 –...

13 Loka 202242min