Leading Corporate Transformation: The WHU Podcast, powered by PwC

How do you bring management and investor views together to successfully transform a company for growth? In this episode, we explore this question with Dr. Sven Oleownik, Partner at EMERAM Capital Partners. EMERAM is a Munich-based private equity firm focused on the DACH region, specializing in mid-sized companies. Together, we examine the company’s approach to nurturing leadership teams and consider the investor's perspective on the roles that CEOs and CFOs play within an organization. Sven also shares his insights on the challenges and opportunities in the current private equity landscape and discusses the key factors that EMERAM considers when evaluating potential new deals. Guest: Dr. Sven Oleownik of EMERAM CAPITAL PARTNERS GMBH Hosts: Prof. Dr. Serden Ozcan & Gori von Hirschhausen Editorial Team: Simon Görlach & Marvin Schöne

How can a family-owned company navigate the industry-wide transformation while maintaining financial stability? AVL List, a €2 billion company located in Graz, Austria, is a leader in engine technology. With the car industry’s shift to electric vehicles, AVL List needs to transform itself, too. This requires substantial investments. As Yorck Schmidt, AVL List’s CFO, explains, "We have invested more than €1 billion over the last 4 years and will invest up to another €700 million within the next three years." In this episode, CFO Yorck Schmidt explains how he and his colleagues at AVL List navigate the profound changes in the automobile industry while continuing to innovate. We explore Yorck’s views on the future of automobile technology, the importance of foreign competition, how AVL manages the complexities of global markets, and his own role as the CFO in AVL List’s transformation. Join us for an insightful conversation on the future of mobility technology and the financial strategies of AVL List. Guest: Dr. Yorck Schmidt Hosts: Martin Glaum & Gori von Hirschhausen Editorial Team: Simon Görlach & Marvin Schöne

“We grew by more than 100% for 12 quarters in a row." Today, the market reality of the food delivery business has changed. Fierce competition, devaluations, and strong pressure from investors to turn the business profitable are the dominating forces. Join us for an interesting discussion in which, together with Emmanuel Thomassin, we talk about the future of the food delivery business model and how the company is working on becoming profitable. Also, listen to some interesting insights on successful deal-making strategies and how Delivery Hero is challenging fierce competition in multiple global markets at once. Guest: Emmanuel Thomassin former CFO Delivery Hero Hosts: Martin Glaum & Gori von Hirschhausen  Editorial Team: Simon Görlach & Marvin Schöne

Bayer AG is one of the most important German companies in the life science business. Now the organization is at a historic turning point, dealing with numerous lawsuits resulting from the acquisition of Monsanto, a pharmaceutical pipeline that is losing exclusivity, and a significant decline in market value over the past few years. This has also sparked investor discussions about the possibility of splitting up the company. In this episode, CFO Wolfgang Nickl will discuss how he, along with the new CEO Bill Anderson and the rest of the Bayer team, are facing these challenges. Join us for an interesting discussion on what lies ahead for Bayer and how the company will transform in the coming years. Guest: Wolfgang Nickl Hosts: Martin Glaum & Gori von Hirschhausen Editorial Team: Simon Görlach & Marvin Schöne

In this new episode of the Leading Corporate Transformation podcast, Professor Martin Glaum from WHU and Gori von Hirschhausen from PwC Germany interview Kai Andrejewski, the CFO of the Sixt Group. Sixt has achieved remarkable growth in recent years. How have they managed to achieve this amidst global challenges? As CFO, Kai gives us insights into the company's growth story, highlighting their distinctive business model that has not only thrived in Europe but has also propelled Sixt to significant expansion in the USA. He also sheds light on the company’s digitalization projects, the utilization of AI and predictive analytics in his finance department. Additionally, you’ll learn about Kai's career journey from being a partner in audit to becoming the CFO and the skills he finds particularly beneficial due to his intriguing professional path.

In the latest episode of Leading Corporate Transformation, Prof. Serden Ozcan and Gori von Hirschhausen from PwC Germany interview the Chair Managing Director of Keysight Technologies Germany, Dr. Joachim Peerlings. He talks about the history of his company and how its operations have evolved over the years. Learn more about the business of Keysight Technologies and what impact the company has today. Also get information about what it's like as an US company to operate out of Germany and how the company is currently working with AI. You'll learn insights on how to keep a company agile as it grows and what leadership advice Joachim would give you for your career.

In this new episode, Prof. Serden Ozcan and Gori von Hirschhausen from PwC Germany discuss with Gillian Drakeford, former Head of Global Retail Experience at INTER IKEA Group. She talks about her long career at IKEA and her role as a CEO in China, United Kingdom and Ireland . Gillian explains the company's biggest strategic and operational challenges and also looks at the company's ability to increase its profitability. Learn what three things had to happen for a successful digital transformation at IKEA and what personal tips Gillian would give you for your career.

In this episode of Leading Corporate Transformation, Professor Martin Glaum of WHU and Gori von Hirschhausen of PwC Germany are joined by Harald Wilhelm, CFO of the Mercedes Benz Group. In their conversation about the fundamental changes within the In this episode of Leading Corporate Transformation, Professor Martin Glaum of WHU and Gori von Hirschhausen of PwC Germany are joined by Harald Wilhelm, CFO of the Mercedes Benz Group. In their conversation about the fundamental changes within the Mercedes Benz Group in times of transformation, Harald Wilhelm explains the 6-pillar strategy the company is pursuing and goes into more detail about their transition to e-mobility. He also addresses the question of how better financial services can be integrated into the company and which specific requirements he identifies in his own finance function at Mercedes Benz Group. While listening to this episode, you will also get insights about the Chinese market as a competitor in electricity and the significance of ESG for Mercedes Benz Group.

In this new episode of Leading Corporate Transformation, Prof. Dr. Martin Glaum (WHU) and Gori von Hirschhausen (PwC) together with their guest Christian Ladurner, CFO of Hensoldt AG, talk about Hensoldt's operation model, business structure and product portfolio. Christian also answers the question of what challenges exist for a defence company like Hensoldt in the areas of supply chain bottlenecks and inflation and how the company is dealing with them. Together, the three financial experts also shed light on topics such as ESG, the EU taxonomy and the importance of M&A activities for Hensoldt.

To kick off the second season of Leading Corporate Transformation, Prof. Dr. Martin Glaum (WHU) and Gori von Hirschhausen (PwC) are joined by Lars Kaestle, CFO and Managing Director of Breitling. The three finance experts talk about the importance of strong brand positioning, Breitling's special approach to sustainability, and how the current geopolitical circumstances are affecting Breitling's business. Lars Kaestle also gives an insight into his collaboration with the private equity owners and talks about how his role as CFO has changed in the course of digitization.

In this episode of Leading Corporate Transformation, Professor Martin Glaum from WHU and Gori von Hirschhausen from PwC Germany talk to Eva Kienle, CFO and Executive Board Member at seed producer KWS Saat. We cover a variety of topics, including challenges faced by companies in the agricultural sector and how global population growth will affect demand for seed solutions in the medium term and the long term. Kienle sees the pressure to innovate as a solution and an opportunity, both for KWS and the industry as a whole. She explains why this pressure is only going to increase in the next few years, and why genome editing is the new kid on the block. Kienle also talks about KWS’s own investment strategy, and explains why a certain level of perseverance helps with revenue planning in the seed industry.

Hosts Professor Martin Glaum from WHU and Gori von Hirschhausen from PwC Germany are joined in this episode by Sebastian Säuberlich, CFO of the Westwing Group. We talk about what’s special about Westwing’s business model, how the pandemic has affected shopping habits (and Westwing’s growth), and the challenges of the battle to attract and retain talent. Sebastian also explains what a cross-docking business is, and sheds light on how the Westwing Group is minimising product returns to reduce the negative impact of e-commerce on the environment.

In the first episode of the new year, Gori von Hirschhausen from PwC and Professor Martin Glaum from WHU are joined by the CFO of Axel Springer, Dr Julian Deutz, to talk about Axel Springer’s fascinating journey from a traditional print publisher to one of the world’s leading digital media corporations over the last two decades. The biggest challenge in this transformation was to avoid losing sight of the company’s values and history while striking out in new directions. Deutz also explains the importance of proper portfolio management and the Axel Springer criteria for acquisitions. Listen in to find out more about the corporation going private a few years ago, and what this change means for innovation at Axel Springer.

Hosts Professor Martin Glaum from WHU and Gori von Hirschhausen from PwC are joined in this episode by the CFO of Giesecke+Devrient, Dr Peter Zattler. We focus on how G+D has always been ahead of its time, innovating its way from a small family business to a global tech corporation. Listen in for insights into what will make good CFOs of the future stand out, and which challenges the next generation will have to face in corporate finance functions – and to find out what fintech companies and the time-honoured ampersand have to do with G+D.

This time, hosts Professor Serden Ozcan from WHU and Gori von Hirschhausen from PwC are joined by the CEO of the Röchling Group, Professor Hanns-Peter Knaebel. Professor Knaebel talks about how Röchling has always been undergoing transformation, and how the company is transforming going forward. As a company which mainly produces industrial plastics, shortages of raw materials are a major challenge, and sustainable alternatives need to be found. As a result, placing ESG at the centre of corporate strategy is a key aim at Röchling. On the role of finance, Professor Knaebel says he wants to be able to go to the finance function to find out about challenges of the future rather than to get a history lesson. As a CEO, he’s well aware of the importance of seeing the big picture, but he also feels that he can still get down into the details with his employees.

This time, hosts Professor Serden Ozcan from WHU and Gori von Hirschhausen from PwC are joined by the longstanding former CEO of Klöckner, Gisbert Rühl. We talk with him about his exciting career, learning from contact with the greats of Silicon Valley and how he put these lessons into practice at Klöckner. We also take a look at how Klöckner was able to succeed in its transformation to a platform business, and at the challenges for employees, culture and stakeholders that had to be overcome along the way.

Hosts Professor Martin Glaum from WHU and Gori von Hirschhausen from PwC are joined in this episode by Dr Lars Grünert, the CFO of Trumpf, to discuss how family-owned businesses can better withstand crises. We also take a look at the fascinating story of how Trumpf has grown from a simple engineering company to a high-tech corporation, and how the company’s finance function has reflected and guided this transformation.

Hosts Professor Serden Ozcan and Gori von Hirschhausen are joined in this episode by the CEO of Techem, Matthias Hartmann. He tells us about the challenges and opportunities that his company encountered in corporate transformation and how you can get your own employees involved in shaping the future. We also take a look at how energy service providers for the real estate sector are looking to transformation as an opportunity.

What actually is corporate transformation? How does it differ from strategic management? And what’s it got to do with WHU, PwC and this podcast? Our hosts and transformation experts Professor Serden Ozcan (WHU), Professor Martin Glaum (WHU) and Gori von Hirschhausen (PwC) are here to answer these questions and many more, and to give you a sneak peek into our upcoming episodes.