Siemens' new chief executive, Peter Loescher, starts his job on Monday promising to lead 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.
His predecessor, Klaus Kleinfeld, 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 euro in bribes to secure contracts. Loescher, who will officially succeed Kleinfeld this Sunday, 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 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 conglomerate's US business, Loescher gained experience in the United States before his posting as CEO.
Loescher made a name for himself at Siemens' rival General Electric and US drugmaker Merck 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.
Analysts have said Siemens is not easy to manage and an outsider is likely to take two to three years to understand it.
Siemens' staff of roughly 500,000 are willing to give Loescher 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.
