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EUROPE Winner...
FRASER INNES The Netherlands
CEO INSIGHT... Q
Q Q
What are your most important professional
achievements at your current company?
There have been a number but our success in our M&A activities has been the cornerstone of the shareholder value creation.
How did you do that?
We used our contacts and market knowledge to identify the right opportunities within the target sector for upstream oil and gas technology
What education or prior experience helped you
succeed at your current company?
I built a small upstream technology company up from 12 people to 260 in 12 years and sold it for over £100 million in 1999. Since then all my roles have involved an aspect of M&A activity.
Q
What lessons did you learn on your way to becoming a
CEO?
Find great people, motivate them, give them something to believe in and then get out of the way
Q
Q Q
What are the key success factors for a CEO?
We are measured on profits and value. Although they are not always in the same proportions they are always there.
What are the key challenges for a CEO?
People ….then everything else
How did you overcome those challenges?
To plagiarise to some degree Mr Watson the founder of IBM, make decisions, make them now and if they are wrong have the strength of character to recognise this and fix them.
Q Q
How do you manage the relationship with your Board of Directors?
Easily as they are all wonderful people……naturally
What do you look for in your successor?
Intelligence, drive, sales ability
Q Q
What advice do you give to rising CEOs?
I never give advice like that……….. unless I’m asked to
Do you admire another CEO or a leader (current or historical)? Why?
The Rt Hon Robert Rayne my old boss from London Merchant Securities (Now Derwent I believe), a thoroughly decent chap and extremely pleasant company yet extremely successful. I wish I could combine those two attributes half as well
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How do you describe your leadership style?
More push than pull probably but always from the front
How do you compete in a global business
environment?
Do your homework and have great products
How do you compete in a recession?
With difficulty but hopefully with
greater focus on what matters at the time
Q Q
How do you see the future of your industry?
I think Oil & Gas have little to fear from alternative energy for the foreseeable future so fairly confident
What advice would you give to policy makers to
help the economy and your business?
Try to be more enlightened regarding business taxation for a change and incentivise us to greater success. From there will spring genuine wealth creation and ultimately sustainable long term higher tax income!
Q Q
Can you please share any life or personal lessons
that other CEOs
Great people build great businesses so try to employ plenty of them
Can you share with us a CEO humour?
Try to remember that when you’re with your kids and grandkids that CEO actually stands for Chief Entertainment Officer.
Chairman & CEO of Paradigm Group BV
FINANCE MONTHLY CEO AWARDS 2014
Fraser Innes, CEO of Paradigm Website: http://paradigm.eu