Mr. Kurtenbach, a warm welcome to the CHIRON Group! You have been COO for a few weeks now. What are your main tasks?

Thank you! I am very happy to be part of the CHIRON Group now and to be part of the big global family. As COO – Chief Operating Officer – I represent CHIRON Group SE. This means that I am responsible for all operational processes and locations in the Group.

What does this statement from CFO Markus Unterstein mean to you: »In an industrial environment like ours, operational management is not a background task – it is at the heart of our success«?

For me, this means that we have to constantly work on the efficiency and improvement of our processes in this very dynamic and complex environment. It's about not taking processes for granted, but constantly questioning and optimizing them. We rely on clear structures, measurable results and the courage to break new ground. Operational excellence not only stands for success today, but also for the long-term competitiveness of the CHIRON Group.

What is particularly important to you in your daily collaboration at the CHIRON Group?

I wish for open and honest cooperation. It's about everyone in the team taking responsibility and committing to the common goals. A positive working environment in which everyone feels at ease and enjoys their work, greeting each other with a smile, is very important. The CHIRON Group has a great responsibility for its almost 2,000 employees, and I and everyone on the management team are very aware of that. We have to be successful as a Group and earn money – this secures our jobs and enables us to fulfill our social aspirations and mission. And we need to create the right environment for this.

Where do you see the CHIRON Group in the competition?

To put it in sporting terms: In the »Champions League«. We have a special team spirit, outstanding products and services. I would like to use my experience to help us consolidate and strengthen our position. To achieve this, it is important that we continuously work on ourselves and – to stay with the sporting image – step it up here or there to provide our customers with the best possible support.

Do you have a motto that characterizes the way you work?

My motto is »There is a solution for every challenge.« I always try to tackle problems constructively, incorporate and integrate new ideas and developments – without losing sight of what has been tried and tested. I am certain that we will only remain successful in the long term through continuous adaptation and innovation.

If you were to describe yourself in two sentences, what would they be?

I am honest and direct, determined and hard-working, supportive and demanding, consistent and persistent. You can rely on me, even and especially in difficult times.

A final question: What makes you special?

To put it bluntly: I have »chips in my blood«. In training, at university, as a master craftsman: I have worked with metal-cutting machining centers all my professional life. I automated some of the machines myself and also developed, built and sold mechatronic robot kits. Also in my management positions at various companies: Machining centers! This passion for mechanical engineering accompanies me in everything I do – and at the CHIRON Group I feel that I am in excellent hands.