Norican Group has a new, highly experienced and technically accomplished President and CEO, Anders Wilhjelm. To provide the customers and the wider industry with some insights into the man who will be at the helm of the group which includes DISA, ItalPresseGauss, StrikoWestofen and Wheelabrator – we asked him about his approach to business, passion for technology plus a bit about himself. Here’s what he had to say.
Anders, what is your business background and why did you decide to take the reins at Norican?
I have spent most of my career in international leadership and board-level roles at B2B companies, latterly as Group CEO of Solar A/S and prior to that, President and CEO of GEA Process Engineering. However my business focus and career passion has always been the combination of technology and global business development, which is what brought me to Norican Group.
Norican is a strong combination of knowledgeable people, a global network and an owner team I already enjoy working with. Combine this with the exciting developments that are taking hold across the group from digital connected technologies to simple engineering innovations – ideas truly are currency at Norican, which is why I didn’t need much time to think when the Norican opportunity was presented to me.
What excites you about joining Norican Group?
The pure potential. As a company that comprises the four technologies of DISA, ItalPresseGauss, StrikoWestofen and Wheelabrator, Norican has the breadth and depth to solve industry challenges. Our equipment offer combines to cover everything from melting and casting to part preparation and finishing - everything focussed in metal. Adding to this, each of the technologies is an industry leader in its own right, so the opportunity to inspire customers with the potential performance gains offered by equipment from across the group, is truly exciting.
I was also impressed by the groupwide approach to innovation and data usage, exemplified by the creation of Norican Digital. As such I believe the company’s future is even more exciting than its past.
Finally for me, the key ingredient to success is people, and here the teams across Norican wear their passion for innovation with pride and are genuinely committed to customers. Group success is about teamwork, shared values and speed. With these qualities in abundance I believe we have what it takes to succeed for ourselves and for our customers.
What approach will you bring to the business to ensure we continue improving and delivering leading equipment and excellent services to customers?
I am a big believer in empowerment and avoiding bureaucracy to maximise business speed. Speed is a culture. You cannot buy more time – it’s the ultimate scarce resource. In a company the size of Norican, you need structure and process to manage operations, so my focus will be devoted on ensuring all of these processes are as effective, connected and seamless as possible for the benefit of customers.
In business I also pride myself on being competitively paranoid and never taking a customer or a market position for granted. That’s why I am determined this business will extend its reputation as a leader in innovation, to continue fuelling customer growth.
Lastly, I think it’s very important to be professionally humble and constructively dissatisfied – and to use these traits to improve… always.
And finally, please tell us a little bit about yourself…
I have been happily married for 23 years and have two grown-up kids. Having had the pleasure of living in four countries on three continents, I have now returned to my native Denmark where I live in Copenhagen.