»feine adressen – finest« – Hannover 1 18

finest interview | 15 b
automotive industry is undergoing a period of radical change, with
new technologies being utilised to meet new social requirements. It
is a thrilling time in which we can really bring about change.
You have experienced the automotive market all over the world.
Where was your favourite location?
Every region has its advantages, of course, but I spent particularly
long spells in England and China. My family always felt particularly
at home in Asia, but, as a Dutchman born and bred, of
course I’m absolutely thrilled to be back in Europe. I have a very
special affinity with Germany, were I spent the longest stint of my
career so far.
What is particularly important to you as Managing Director of
Jaguar Land Rover?
In my opinion, the most important thing is to develop a clear strategy
and use it to get all of our employees on the same page. If
we are all pulling in the same direction and supporting each other
from our respective departments, then we will build a strong basis
for lasting success in the future. That's why, in my first days and
weeks, I spent a lot of time getting to grips with how the company
works, what challenges we face in which areas and what employees
and dealers consider particularly important.
How do you see the company’s future?
Jaguar Land Rover is ideally placed to continue to be successful
both internationally and in the German market. Over the past
seven years, the company has more than doubled its workforce,
while more than tripling vehicle sales and revenue in the same
period. We will spend EUR 4.5 billion on new products and
investments in 2018 alone, and the launch of the Jaguar I-PACE
in the summer will see us put our first all-electric vehicle onto the
road.
You are a family man and a successful businessman. How do you
manage to do both? Do you spend a lot of time with your family?
Of course, it is often a challenge to find the perfect balance between
family and career – as most people can attest from their own working
lives! My family is currently based in southern Germany, so
I do still spend a fair amount of time on the road, but that is only
temporary. And, of course, I am now much closer to my family in
the Netherlands, which is also an advantage. My family is very
important to me and so far, I feel like I’ve been able to strike a
good balance between my home and work lives.