As every year, the Executive Board of the Wilo Group has invited executives to an international top management meeting. For the first time in Wilo’s history, this meeting is taking place as a hybrid event, due to the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
“We are pleased that we are now connected via live stream to over 100 colleagues from 35 countries, across different time zones,” said Oliver Hermes, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Wilo Group.
Wilo top management meeting
As every year, the global Wilo top management meets to review the past year and to set the strategic course for the coming months and years, but this year under changed conditions.
In order to make the two-day strategic exchange interactive, despite the compulsory masks and distance regulations, participants present in the new Wilopark, under strict coronavirus regulations, are connected live to colleagues from all over the world.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on global megatrends
A central element of the Executive Board presentations is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global megatrends
A central element of the Executive Board presentations is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global megatrends and thus, the strategic orientation of the Wilo Group for the coming years.
Oliver Hermes, President and CEO of the Wilo Group, is convinced that the COVID-19 crisis will change the old world of globally networked value creation. He said, “Forward-looking companies will be scrutinizing their strategies. Risk aspects will become increasingly important. We want to remain an independent group of companies, and this also means that we must not be dependent on individual customers or suppliers.”
Globalization 2.0
To this end, the Wilo Group is preparing itself for a changing ‘Globalization 2.0’ in the future. In the future, supply chains and production processes will be organized more regionally in the three economic centers of Europe, Asia, and the USA. “This will lead to more resilience, but this will certainly also be at the expense of profitability and return on investment,” explains Oliver Hermes.
In times of the COVID-19 pandemic, entrepreneurial role models are needed more than ever before, who can meet the still current challenges, such as climate change with technological innovations and pragmatic solutions.
Forced digital transformation for organizations
The Wilo Group sees the COVID-19 crisis as an opportunity. Companies are currently undergoing a kind of ‘forced digital transformation’.
Oliver Hermes explains, “Sustainable investment and innovation in the digital transformation will ease the path towards a climate-neutral economy and make companies stronger than they were before the crisis. We, therefore, see the digital transformation as a key factor and not just a megatrend.”
Enhancing efficiency of water management systems
As a renowned technology company in the pump industry, Wilo is committed to achieving better living standards worldwide
In addition, the COVID-19 crisis has made it particularly clear that the Wilo Group, as an industrial and technology group, makes a significant contribution to keeping sectors of systemic importance running, and is thus, a fundamental component of critical infrastructures.
As a renowned technology company in the pump industry, Wilo is committed to achieving better living standards worldwide and improving the efficiency of water management systems in the face of climate change.
Global sustainability and climate protection initiative
By 2025, for example, 100 million people are to have better access to clean water. Oliver Hermes said, “Our products, systems and solutions contribute to supplying people all over the world with water in an intelligent, efficient and climate-friendly way. We are, therefore, proud that the Wilo Group, together with 49 other globally operating companies, was selected this year to participate in the global sustainability and climate protection initiative called ‘50 Sustainability & Climate Leaders’ of the United Nations and Bloomberg.”
Oliver adds, “Together with our global network partners, we drive forward future-oriented, climate-friendly solutions and proactively promote dialogue with politics, business and NGOs. Corporate political responsibility as part of sustainable action is part of our everyday practice,” explains the Wilo boss.
