TPT March 2013

Inspection, measuring and

testing

“It’s a great feeling to build something step by step with a team and to reach very challenging targets.” Bjørn Eldar Petersen – EFD Induction, Norway

■ What’s the best thing about your job? There’s no one single thing – it’s a combination. There is of course the challenge of strengthening a worldwide organisation. Then there’s the satisfaction that comes with building something together with a competent team. Finally, there is the interaction with impressive and demanding customers, and with technologies and employees. ■ What is the toughest aspect of your job? And what is the most difficult part of being the CEO of a large company? As CEO one is faced with many tough situations and decisions – it’s part of the job. However, one should create understanding among internal and external stakeholdersas towhyparticular decisions have been made by sharing relevant background information. Creating this understanding, and getting people behind a decision is one of the main challenges in a global company. ■ What’s the most exciting project you have worked on during your career and why? There have been many, some with positive excitement, others with negative. The former includes building a global aftermarket business in the automotive sector. It’s a great feeling to build something step by step and, together with a dedicated team, to reach very challenging targets. The latter includes some unpleasant experiences with industrial action that spilled over into violence and workplace aggression. It’s definitely not a positive situation when employees fear for their safety.

■ Tell us about your role at

your company, and what you specialise in.

I think the CEO’s role has two main aspects. On one hand it is about providing strategic direction for the entire organisation. It’s about defining what we want to be in the future, and ensuring everyone knows where we’re going and how we’re going to get there. The second, and equally important role, is to be active in day- to-day decision making; making sure our actions are aligned with our long- term objectives.

■ What is the longest you have worked without sleep and what is the worst crisis you have faced? I think it would have to be the situation I mentioned in my last answer. Wildcat industrial action and violence is not normallypart of one’sbusinesseducation – it certainly poses challenges. At the same time one gains a lot of experience in a short time. But it’s not something I want to go through again! ■ How do you see the tube and pipe industry changing over the next five years following the global recession? Actually, I’m pretty optimistic about the industry. Once the global economy fully recovers there will be a tremendous need for investing in infrastructure and manufacturing. And despite some hiccups, the BRIC economies look set to remain robust. engineering or the tube industry, what career would you love to have chosen instead? I was a semi-pro footballer in Norway for a number of years, so I suppose I ■ If you were not involved in

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M ARCH 2013