New Siemens CEO readies to take top job on Monday
By Jens Hack and Arno Schuetze
FRANKFURT, June 28 (Reuters) - Siemens' (SIEGn.DE) new Chief Executive Peter Loescher starts his job on Monday promising to steer the company with a more muted approach than his predecessor who was forced to resign amid a corruption scandal.
His focus would be on evolution and not revolution, said Loescher, facing journalists' questions for the first time this week since his surprise appointment six weeks ago as the first outsider to lead the 160-year-old German conglomerate.
This is a change in style to his predecessor Klaus Kleinfeld, who had rushed to reshape the Munich-based technology conglomerate and pushed through his vision with bold acquisitions and more efficient use of Siemens' cash.
Kleinfeld resigned after the conglomerate became embroiled in a scandal in which some of its officials have been accused of paying hundreds of millions of euros in bribes to secure contracts. Loescher, who will officially succeed Kleinfeld on July 1, attended a board meeting this week and said he intended listening and trying to get to know Siemens' employees.
But the greying 49-year-old sporting silver cuff links and a simple gold watch will not be idle. "I will push for the necessary change, like we have always done in our history," he said.
Austrian-born Loescher pledged to stick to 2010 profit targets set by Kleinfeld, but asked journalists: "Will you give me 100 days?"
Like Kleinfeld, who ran the trains-to-lightbulbs conglomerate's U.S. business, Loescher gained experience in the United States before his posting as CEO.
Loescher made a name for himself at Siemens' rival General Electric (GE.N) and U.S. drugmaker Merck (MRK.N) and is said to be adept at improving the efficiency of operations.
An economist by training, he was educated in Vienna, Hong Kong and Harvard.
On possible changes in management in connection with the corruption scandal Loescher repeated: "Give me 100 days."
Analysts have said Siemens is not easy to manage and an outsider is likely to take two to three years to understand it.
But Loescher has taken to calling the Siemens' board "my team" and other executives have praised his expertise and said the chemistry was right.
Siemens' staff of roughly 500,000 are willing to give him some leeway before judging him.
Workers' council chief Ralf Heckmann said: "Loescher has told our representatives that there won't be massive layoffs in Germany or other regions."
The employees were confident Loescher, a part-time sailor, will be able to steer the company into quieter waters, he added.
