We were delighted to welcome 40 leaders from a select group of Swiss companies to Spencer Stuart’s annual Leadership Forum at the Dolder Grand Hotel.
Our guest speaker was Erik Fyrwald, CEO of IFF and the theme of the evening was Leading Transformation with Clarity and Purpose.
A highly experienced CEO with a tireless passion for revitalizing businesses that are on a transformation journey, Erik is rapidly bringing a renewed sense of purpose to IFF’s mission and setting it on a trajectory for success.
During a fireside chat with Sigrid Artho, Erik reflected on several key aspects of his role as CEO: the importance of having the right leaders in place; the power of listening; the benefits of simplifying the strategic vision and tying it to purpose; and the positive impact of communicating a clear message that is repeated consistently for both internal and external audiences.
Of course, success starts with having the right team. Whatever the urgency of the situation, rushing into a key appointment can be a mistake, so as Erik pointed out it always pays to take time making the right decisions about people.
In his first six months with the business, Erik has toured all of IFF’s major sites around the world with members of his leadership team. They have listened to what it is that their 22,000 colleagues like about the company, and also to what frustrates them. Leaders who are genuinely open to feedback, and who invest time in helping people make sense of the changes that need to be made, will inevitably see a corresponding uplift in energy and engagement across the business. And as Erik pointed out, few things have greater impact than the ability to engage your people.
With a refreshing level of candor, Erik provided examples of where businesses he has led have got things wrong. He pointed out that it’s the CEO’s job to take full accountability for mistakes and to give others the credit for success. Such attitudes percolate through an organization, helping shift the culture towards a focus on the customer, innovation and operational excellence – all essential ingredients of IFF’s success.
#insideIFF #weareIFF #leadership #transformation #engagement #innovation
CEO @IFF
6dGreat to be here in Geneva with our passionate IFF Scent Team and our wonderful customers. Terrific to feel the power of collaboration to create fragrances that sustainably bring consumers joy and health!