How has the industry changed since you started and what challenges do you think the industry faces? In your role and as a whole? I think there were significant changes, at least in Europe and the US. First, I would name an ever-increasing regulatory burden, with standards such as REACH and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance). I believe that our sector has really never fully recovered after the 2007-2008 financial crisis, and things are only getting worse due to increasing financial and geopolitical instability. Price volatility and market competition are not new to our business, but political regulations that undermine the competitiveness of local businesses are pretty new. Many traditional supply chains have been disrupted in recent years. The price of energy reached record levels. The EU economy is stagnating. The trend towards globalization created new problems as the industry has to cope with different rules and cultural standards across different regions. What I like about the industry? I like to see my ideas transforming into real products, I like meeting my customers and my peers, I like to discuss technical subjects, I like the feeling of fulfilment and a sense of purpose that comes when I achieve my goals. What would I change? Let me cite the words of an ancient Persian philosopher Rumi: “Yesterday I was clever so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise so I am changing myself.”
How do you balance work life with home life? And what do you like to do with your free time – Hobbies? Holidays? Weekends? I’m trying to downshift and relax. I like going to the gym. I enjoy gardening or tinkering with my old car. These are wonderful means of escape. I love nature and hate crowded places. My perfect weekend is spending time with my family in our cottage house where something always needs to be fixed.
If you could meet anyone famous (dead or alive) who would that be and why? Elon Musk – because of his beautiful mind, his entrepreneurial genius, and his firm political stance.
Favourite quote?
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Eliot
www.linkedin.com/in/boris-zhmud-3a793961/
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LUBE MAGAZINE NO.185 FEBRUARY 2025
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