TPT March 2013

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Inspection, measuring and testing
■ 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’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.
■ 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.
■ If you were not involved in
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
92 MARCH 2013
“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