Congratulations!
International strategy consulting firm Roland Berger Strategy Consultants honored two companies and two managers with its Best of European Business awards tonight in the Europäisches Haus in Berlin, home to this year's cooperation partner, the Representation of the European Commission in Germany. Media partners for the event – which celebrated the winners of the German round of the pan-European awards – were TV broadcaster CNN, Financial Times Deutschland and manager magazin.
At the ceremony for the fifth "Best of European Business" awards, Roland Berger Strategy Consultants – the world's biggest strategy consulting firm of European origin – recognized two companies and two managers for growth in the crisis and exemplary leadership in accordance with European values.
One of Europe's strengths is shown in its companies, which are increasingly setting themselves apart from their global competitors: "Europe's companies grow faster and more profitably; they are more international and their activities more sustainable," said Prof. Burkhard Schwenker, CEO of Roland Berger Strategy Consultants.
With its strong companies, a robust industrial base and the ability to provide production-related services, Europe is excellently positioned for a future in which growth will be generated primarily in the real economy. If Europe can combine these strengths with long-term challenges such as an aging population and climate change, this would create the foundation for sustainable growth. "Everything that has to do with the 'green transformation' is based on an intelligent cross-section of engineered products, electrical engineering and high-value services – in other words, the characteristic strengths of Europe," explained Schwenker. "A return to our industrial competence, combined with thoughts on sustainability: therein lies the key to making the next decade a 'European' one."
At the ceremony for the fifth "Best of European Business" awards, Roland Berger Strategy Consultants – the world's biggest strategy consulting firm of European origin – recognized two companies and two managers for growth in the crisis and exemplary leadership in accordance with European values.
One of Europe's strengths is shown in its companies, which are increasingly setting themselves apart from their global competitors: "Europe's companies grow faster and more profitably; they are more international and their activities more sustainable," said Prof. Burkhard Schwenker, CEO of Roland Berger Strategy Consultants.
With its strong companies, a robust industrial base and the ability to provide production-related services, Europe is excellently positioned for a future in which growth will be generated primarily in the real economy. If Europe can combine these strengths with long-term challenges such as an aging population and climate change, this would create the foundation for sustainable growth. "Everything that has to do with the 'green transformation' is based on an intelligent cross-section of engineered products, electrical engineering and high-value services – in other words, the characteristic strengths of Europe," explained Schwenker. "A return to our industrial competence, combined with thoughts on sustainability: therein lies the key to making the next decade a 'European' one."
Burkhard Schwenker giving his speech at the awards ceremony
"The crisis has shown that "by and large, the American management model has failed: with its short time frames, its fixation on the capital markets, a disproportionately heavy focus on finance and a misunderstood shareholder-value way of thinking," says Schwenker. He is convinced of the superiority of the continental European management model, which tends to take the long view. This model "firmly embeds our companies in society; it has a broad understanding of corporate success and above all, it has an understanding of humanistic education." Hence the central question of this year's competition, which was also reflected in each category: "Is there a European path to successful corporate management?"
Competitive companies need a competitive, sustainable Europe as a basis: "That's why what goes on in Brussels and what the new Lisbon Agenda will look like is so important," according to Schwenker. Previous efforts to generate enthusiasm for Europe have achieved only mild success. "We need a new and truly European initiative, such as Jacques Delors tried to launch," concluded Schwenker.
Competitive companies need a competitive, sustainable Europe as a basis: "That's why what goes on in Brussels and what the new Lisbon Agenda will look like is so important," according to Schwenker. Previous efforts to generate enthusiasm for Europe have achieved only mild success. "We need a new and truly European initiative, such as Jacques Delors tried to launch," concluded Schwenker.
Herbert Lütkestratkötter, Burkhard Schwenker, Jürgen Hambrecht, Heinz-Jürgen Bertram (from left to right, Hartmut Ostrowski is missing due illness related abscence)
Closing remarks were given by the Director-General for Enterprise and Industry of the European Commission, Heinz Zourek. He discussed the Commission's business policy and the unique features of the European business model. "The linchpin of the social market economy is functioning product markets," said Zourek. "The state's primary task is to define the framework in which markets and entrepreneurs can freely strive to meet their potential." He briefly summarized the economic guidelines of this year's cooperation partner for the German "Best of European Business" competition, the European Commission: "With our business policy, we aim to achieve – and we can achieve – one thing: providing companies with a reliable, long-term framework in which they can orient themselves and successfully develop."
About the winners
Dr. Jürgen Hambrecht, CEO of BASF SE, received the prize for best "European Manager". The jury stated that he had succeeded in positioning BASF SE as the world's leading chemicals company, with approximately 104,000 employees and production sites in all key markets worldwide. By transforming BASF AG into a European Company or Societas Europeas (SE) in 2008, he created one of the biggest companies in Europe without losing sight of its origins: As Vice-President of the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI), Hambrecht campaigned tirelessly for Germany as a strong European industrial location.
The award for "Strong leadership" went to Hartmut Ostrowski, CEO of Bertelsmann AG, Europe's largest media group. The jury drew attention to the many bold decisions made by Ostrowski: the courage to send out a clear message in the economic crisis by having the Board waive their bonuses in 2009. The courage to employ a decentralized management structure fostering independent management and employee decisions. The courage to take on responsibility in difficult times – the company guaranteed all trainees in 2009 a job at the end of their training period and continued its multiple award-winning recruiting initiative "Create your own Career" with undiminished intensity. And finally, the courage to make cuts where necessary, such as selling its stake in the music business Sony BMG and the American book club due to a lack of growth prospects. In 2009, Bertelsmann also carried out the biggest cost-cutting program in the history of the company, with a total volume of EUR 900 million, while at the same time maintaining or even improving the company's leading market positions.
In the category "Growth despite crisis" for large companies, Dr. Herbert Lütkestratkötter accepted the award on behalf of HOCHTIEF Aktiengesellschaft in his role as CEO. According to the jury, HOCHTIEF – one of the leading international providers of construction-related services with more than 64,000 employees worldwide and a sales volume of EUR 18.7 billion in FY 2008 – survived the economic crisis so well by changing its strategy at the right moment. Today, HOCHTIEF delivers integrated services along the complete lifecycle of infrastructure projects, real estate and industrial plants and is expanding its presence in international growth markets. At the end of Q3/2009, the company had a record order backlog, ensuring a forward order book of almost 21 months. Overall, in crisis year 2009 HOCHTIEF expects a contract value exceeding that of the previous year.
Symrise AG, represented by CEO Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Bertram, won the award in the category "Growth despite crisis" for medium-sized companies (revenues up to EUR 5 billion). The jury drew attention to the company's stable revenue growth of 4% from Q3/2008 to Q3/2009 and its 10% increase in earnings (EBITDA). Symrise AG – a listed producer of flavors and fragrances as well as basic and active ingredients for cosmetics, whose sales of EUR 1.319 billion in 2008 made it one of the four biggest players in the industry worldwide – managed to increase its market share significantly despite the difficult environment. The figures for sales, EBIT and net earnings have been better than forecast since Q2, indicating that customers have been running down stocks and are now ready to place new orders.
Jury members Dr. Arno Balzer and Steffen Klusmann hosted the awards ceremony.
About the winners
Dr. Jürgen Hambrecht, CEO of BASF SE, received the prize for best "European Manager". The jury stated that he had succeeded in positioning BASF SE as the world's leading chemicals company, with approximately 104,000 employees and production sites in all key markets worldwide. By transforming BASF AG into a European Company or Societas Europeas (SE) in 2008, he created one of the biggest companies in Europe without losing sight of its origins: As Vice-President of the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI), Hambrecht campaigned tirelessly for Germany as a strong European industrial location.
The award for "Strong leadership" went to Hartmut Ostrowski, CEO of Bertelsmann AG, Europe's largest media group. The jury drew attention to the many bold decisions made by Ostrowski: the courage to send out a clear message in the economic crisis by having the Board waive their bonuses in 2009. The courage to employ a decentralized management structure fostering independent management and employee decisions. The courage to take on responsibility in difficult times – the company guaranteed all trainees in 2009 a job at the end of their training period and continued its multiple award-winning recruiting initiative "Create your own Career" with undiminished intensity. And finally, the courage to make cuts where necessary, such as selling its stake in the music business Sony BMG and the American book club due to a lack of growth prospects. In 2009, Bertelsmann also carried out the biggest cost-cutting program in the history of the company, with a total volume of EUR 900 million, while at the same time maintaining or even improving the company's leading market positions.
In the category "Growth despite crisis" for large companies, Dr. Herbert Lütkestratkötter accepted the award on behalf of HOCHTIEF Aktiengesellschaft in his role as CEO. According to the jury, HOCHTIEF – one of the leading international providers of construction-related services with more than 64,000 employees worldwide and a sales volume of EUR 18.7 billion in FY 2008 – survived the economic crisis so well by changing its strategy at the right moment. Today, HOCHTIEF delivers integrated services along the complete lifecycle of infrastructure projects, real estate and industrial plants and is expanding its presence in international growth markets. At the end of Q3/2009, the company had a record order backlog, ensuring a forward order book of almost 21 months. Overall, in crisis year 2009 HOCHTIEF expects a contract value exceeding that of the previous year.
Symrise AG, represented by CEO Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Bertram, won the award in the category "Growth despite crisis" for medium-sized companies (revenues up to EUR 5 billion). The jury drew attention to the company's stable revenue growth of 4% from Q3/2008 to Q3/2009 and its 10% increase in earnings (EBITDA). Symrise AG – a listed producer of flavors and fragrances as well as basic and active ingredients for cosmetics, whose sales of EUR 1.319 billion in 2008 made it one of the four biggest players in the industry worldwide – managed to increase its market share significantly despite the difficult environment. The figures for sales, EBIT and net earnings have been better than forecast since Q2, indicating that customers have been running down stocks and are now ready to place new orders.
Jury members Dr. Arno Balzer and Steffen Klusmann hosted the awards ceremony.
See pictures of the award here.
Read the FTD Special Issue "Management in Europe" (PDF, 1795 KB)
Burkhard Schwenker's speech at the awards ceremony (PDF, 555 KB)
