Udo Eichlinger, CEO of Siemens in Serbia – Return to the Place of Success

(Udo Eichlinger)

For the new CEO of Siemens in Serbia, Belgrade and Serbian market are not a novelty. Udo Eichlinger, appointed to this position on 1 August 2015, had already been living and working in our country from 2002 to 2005, at that time as CEO of the Siemens Communication Group in Serbia.

Opposed to his first stay in Serbia, this time his stay is fulfilled with his family members – his wife Jelena, and their son Luka (4,5 years old). He considers marriage and family to be one of the greatest success in his life, as “ten years before, I had no idea that love towards a child could be so intense, and that a new little creature can completely change your life. This is probably the sentence of every parent, but it’s true”.

“It's my great pleasure to come back to Serbia and start a new career stage. I can see a huge business potential here and I am looking forward to continue the course established through the long and very successful history of Siemens in Serbia. The Company will remain focused on further investments, business growth and employment”, says Udo Eichlinger in his interview to “eKapija”.

New CEO of Siemens Serbia was born in Germany in 1964. He studied mechanical engineering in his native Kologne and has 25 years of experience in Siemens Group, holding managing positions that have involved work in the Company’s different divisions and business units in Germany, Central and Eastern Europe and the Asia-Pacific region (China, Dubai).

Mr. Eichlinger has started his career in the field of IT and telecommunications, and his last engagement was in Frankfurt, Germany, where he established a Management Consulting Department for the energy efficiency Master Plans for corporate and public clients.

“When I compare my previous stay in Serbia from today’s perspective, in the business sense, I am impressed by the status of the company I have taken over and maturity of the organization which has been significantly upgraded. I am more than satisfied with the level of knowledge and competence we have established, as well as with the divisions’ development, as I may point out our factory in Subotica that is really exceptional. So, a great job has been done during the past years and I am grateful to my predecessor, for that.

When it comes to life in Serbia, I’ve noticed improvements of overall quality of life. They can be seen in everyday activities, as in traffic culture, food and wine culture. Serbia is known by its good food and restaurants, but comparing to the situation few years ago, there are numerous excellent local wineries. Progress in the field of medicine is also noticeable. However, as always, there is room for further development, especially in the field of medicine, and it is a huge task for Serbia, points out our collocutor.

Company as a Big Family

Udo Eichlinger came to the interview with eKapija right from the working breakfast with the employees. Together with the Financial Director, he periodically organizes such meetings with intention to get to know his co-workers better, but also to know firsthand what and how should be improved in the Company, since “who else could know better what is needed for efficient work".

- When I came to Serbia, my first task was to get to know people I was working with, as people are the greatest quality and power. It’s not the duty of my employees to follow me, but my task is to support them, and in that sense I certainly bring a wind of change, starting a different culture. I insist on an open dialogue between management and employees. That is the best way to further promote our relationship, company work and results. For example, we don’t want to have processes and procedures only to be able to say that they exist. We wish they have their purpose and help us to improve our business, and my approach and philosophy have never meant control of what is happening in the company. With the help of these regular meetings, in a little bit informal atmosphere, we become one big family, and we don’t act as a so-called “remote” management or “untouchable” ones.

Today, Siemens in Serbia has a highly dedicated team of about 1,500 employees. As it has been announced in June, by the end of September 2015, 220 workers were employed in the Factory in Subotica, and in addition to that number 89 more people were hired due to the growing number of orders. Mr. Eichlinger says that there are highly qualified engineers in Siemens’ sales team, who support customers in Serbia with the help of their knowledge and expertise.

Comparing his vast experience gained during his engagement in Central and Eastern Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, and the Middle East, our collocutor says that each region and each market has its own specifics. According to him, in Serbia, beside business relations with the clients, there is a certain level of partnership and even friendship between colleagues.

- That does not necessarily make the job easier, but brings a completely different atmosphere. This is what I see as an opportunity in this region - building a partnership relations is also marked with the personal touch of the people involved in that process! That is a very suitable approach for me, because I believe that open communication and exchange of information, is very important for gaining faster results.

The most significant part of Siemens Serbia certainly is a factory of wind generators in Subotica where, since it’s opening in 2003, more than 18,000 generators for wind power plants have been produced. Thanks to the quality of products, compliance with delivery deadlines, procedures and standards, as well as constant innovation in production, the factory was ranked as one of the most important and largest facilities in Siemens division Process Industries and Drives.

- Energy efficiency remains one of the strategic focus points of the Company. In accordance with the Siemens comprehensive Energy Efficiency Program, implemented all around the world and based on reduction of energy costs by introducing the latest technologies, the Company can offer a very extensive knowledge in order to develop that segment in Serbia and use of all potential markets in this important area - emphasizes Udo Eichlinger.

In Serbia, Siemens is dedicated to business strategy that contributes to the welfare of the community in which it operates supporting projects of crucial importance for the further development of the Republic of Serbia.

Speak Serbian So That the Whole World Could Understand You

Besides being married to a Serbian woman, Mr. Eichlinger still does not speak Serbian quite well, but he plans to change that. During his previous stay in our country, numerous obligations at work prevented him from being committed to learning the language, which, he admits, is quite difficult for him to learn.

- I decided then not to improve my Serbian because I thought at the time - where I could use it? And then I realized, “speak Serbian so that the whole World could understand you. I love Serbian mentality and culture, and that is exactly why I can see that Serbian language is going to be easier to improve.

He is planning to return to the language learning in the nearest future in order to achieve a certain higher level, and hopes he will soon be able to hold presentations in Serbian. He is also glad that his son Luka has the opportunity to hear and practically learn three languages at home – German, Serbian and English.

- It’s a kind of a gift for him, and I’m happy that he will probably never have problems with foreign languages.

Mr. Eichlinger says that it’s still early to decide whether to stay with his family to live in Serbia. At this moment his engagement is a standard managerial position which lasts from three to five years.

- There are a lot of preconditions which should be met before we think of our further life in Serbia, although I personally wouldn’t mind. I’m ready to work hard, to continue positive trend of my associates and colleagues for all these years, and that we jointly create even greater Company results.

Weekend Cottage on the Danube River for Battery-Recharge

The leisure time which is actually quite short, he likes to spend in his small house in Srem, on the banks of the Danube. That’s the place where he recharges his batteries and enjoys in crafting, fixing things around the house, potter around the garden or walking the dog along the river.

- Today, we need to live very fast, while the numerous activities are imposing that pace. I think that it is very important that each of us has his energy source. For me that is my little cottage in Srem, as it is said here - says Eichlinger.

Weekends are usually reserved for the family. Sometimes he goes out to a restaurant with his friends or business partners, and due to work usually meets his colleagues-directors of other companies, businessmen... He says, he hasn’t a favorite dish and likes to eat everything, from the Serbian cuisine and “roštilj“(grilled meat) to fish dishes. At home, together with his wife Jelena, currently mainly adjusts to the tastes dictated by his son Luka, and also enjoyed in excellent “pasulj prebranac” (baked beans) prepared by the cook Desa in Siemens’ canteen.

Our collocutor is not active in sport, except the company’s sport meetings. But, as Mr. Eichlinger says, he was “quite relaxed” in the last few months, so he promises to start exercise at least jogging.

“I wish to pull people forward, not to push them”

When it comes to the business philosophy, Udo Eichlinger says that Siemens is in the first place for him. He loves this company and loves to win, as he enjoys competition.

- I’m not a director who decides on everything all by himself. I respect knowledge and experience of my company colleagues, and my philosophy is to discuss with them on the important questions for the further development. If they are successful, I am successful too, so I can say that I cherish very cooperative way of management. Also, I make decisions quickly and really try to pull people onward and motivate them, not only to push them.

During 25 years of working experience, Udo Eichlinger has gone through numerous reorganizations and changes, both in Siemens and outside of it. He once left the Company, but later returned. To him, he says, even after such a long period of work in one company, the first next challenge is always a current engagement.

- My comeback does not mean that I have chosen the “easier” path; it just indicates that Siemens is highly professional company. When you work for the company that is changing the world with its advanced technologies and continuously invests in innovations, it is much easier to stay motivated. Siemens offers a lot to its employees, in terms of education and improvements, changing positions in different continents and cultures, and getting to know various markets…during my career I have gained this rich experience with the possibility of further personal development. If I don’t like what I do, I can’t be successful in that, so what concerns my current work, I must say that I really enjoy it.

Marko Andrejic