FROM THE INDUSTRY
How have you found the experience of blending all these companies into one over the last 12 months? It must have been challenging at times yet rewarding. It has certainly been both challenging and rewarding; I could not phrase it any better. In all of the companies that we have acquired, we have expanded a lot organically and we have expanded a lot inorganically. So, integration is necessary when you expand into another company. We acquired these companies because they are successful. Their talent, know- how and cultures made them successful. That must be the starting point: you must respect the talent, the culture and know-how created, but at the same time, by acquiring companies, you are making them part of something much bigger. With scale comes increased complexity, so typical ways of working need to be refreshed to manage the complexity. There is an opportunity to take advantage of more knowledge and proliferate it across the entire globe, which is the rewarding part. It is easier said than done; it is still something we must perfect. But I’m quite satisfied in the process, and I’m confident that when we complete the integration, it’s going to unlock a lot of value for the industry. You’ve lived all over the world as you have developed your career, I’m very envious! What are your standout memories so far and where was your favourite place to live? I’ve enjoyed everywhere I’ve lived. I lived in Italy for a while and it was incredible. The only downside was I put on a lot of weight because I couldn’t resist the food! I have not officially lived in the UK, but my office was in the UK for a long time. I learned a lot, and I enjoyed England a lot. I love London, I always look forward to being there, but I love the countryside as well. I actually spend a lot of time in the north of the UK. I also spend a lot of time in Amsterdam.
Asia was a very enriching experience for me both from a professional and personal perspective. I lived in Singapore, but I travelled a lot in the region; experiencing the scale and the energy in Asia gave me a completely different, yet complementary perspective. Now, I live in Princeton in New Jersey, another historic place. You know, I live just under 200 metres away from where Einstein studied and spent a very big part of his life. Just thinking that ‘on this street Einstein walked his way home’ is extraordinary. I have always worked for North American companies. But this is my first time living in the US. I really needed this experience to get to the full picture, and I’m enjoying it. I have not precisely answered your question, but that’s my long-winded answer: all of those places have been essential. I cannot take any of them out.
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Volume 46 No.3 September 2024
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