Expertise in automotive and manufacturing industry in Germany

Tobias Reich and PA Consulting Group - Expertise in automotive and manufacturing industry in Germany Name: Tobias Reich Position/Division: Member of Management Organisation: PA Consulting Group GmbH Dear readers, in context of our Competence Site we would like to introduce key expertise from research and business. Cooperation requires knowing - so these interviews should not only transfer experience, but also help to identify possible points of contact across organizations for collaboration. On 1st of January 2012 Tobias Reich started his new position as a member of management at PA Consulting Group in the business for customers of manu- facturing industry. Over the last 20 years, Tobias has held a number of senior management posi- tions in the automotive and renewable-energy manufacturing industries. As a former marketing director of Daimler, he focused on making the company’s marketing and sales division more customer-orientated, internationally-focused and faster at adapting to change. As head of marketing for electric vehicles at PSA Peugeot Citroen in Paris, he orchestrated the launch of four electric vehi- cle models, the first series to be launched in Europe. Most recently, at Vestas Wind Systems, he defined a strategy for integrating wind energy with electric vehicle systems. Today Mr. Reich will report on his own background of experience, the chal- lenges in its own sphere, current activities and projects and his expectations of Competence Site and other experts. Have fun reading! Your team of NetSkill www.competence-site.de Seite 1 Dear Mr. Reich, Question 1: What were previously the most important stages in your life, experiences and insights? Why did you choose for each of these stations? What skills you were able to expand on and off? Which networks (associations, alumni networks, ...) were and are important to you? Answer: Throughout my career, starting from my university days, I have put particular emphasis on good co-operation between Marketing and Sales functions. This for me is a pre-requisite for an effective and efficient Marketing-Mix in a customer focused organization. It has been equally important for me to work not only functionally cross-border but also literally crossing borders to work internationally. Starting with a long-term post-graduate internship in the United States, I have in the meantime lived and worked in the United Kingdom, in France, Spain and Germany. And now I am excited to join PA Consulting Group, an internationally leading consulting firm. In my new role I will continue to benefit from my good contacts as a member of the INSEAD alumni network with many of my fellow MBA mates working in in- teresting positions across different sectors and industries around the world. www.competence-site.de Seite 2 Question 2: In your opinion: what are the main developments and biggest challenges in your instantaneous action area (within your organization and within your industry)? What are the key success factors and skills to meet the new challenges? Answer: My focus area will remain the automotive industry also as major part of my new role at PA Consulting Group. However, the mega trend of Green mobility, particularly for electric vehicles within, requires effective collaboration across the organizational borders of car makers, utilities, transport providers and public sector. Their continuous dialogue for new infrastructure and regulation, smart networks and mobility models is the most important success factor, also relying on intermediates for delivering on these tasks. Based on my experience and the existing competencies at PA for these issues I will further elaborate on this mega trend. www.competence-site.de Seite 3 Question 3: What activities and projects you currently attend or in which activities and pro- jects you are involved? What other partners are involved in your organization? With which external partners you work together? Answer: After joining PA, the start is all about traditional topics and projects within the automotive industry – this means, based on my marketing and sales expertise, to position PA at existing clients also for consulting topics such as improving customer focus, managing product variances, optimizing showroom and dealer quality as well as globaliz- ing sales markets. This will be added by communicating a new mindset for the automotive industry fostering the usage of renewable energy sources be it within products or plants. Furthermore, this means innovative marketing for fu- ture mobility – a paradigm shift from product to more service. And finally, the convergence of entire industries creates a completely new playground for car makers, energy and grid operators as well as transport and telecom providers; reinventing the future of mobility facilitated by the public sector. This said the spectrum of external partnering and client work for PA is clearly defined – we would like to contribute to the roadmap for less CO2 in green mobility. Thank you for this Interview! www.competence-site.de Seite 4