Enter the Boardroom 132. Carl-Peter Forster: Forget Governance. Great Boards Focus on Strategy, People, and Execution.
19 snips
Jul 23, 2025 Carl-Peter Forster, an experienced industrial executive and board chair of Vesuvius plc and Keller Group plc, shares invaluable insights from his tenure at renowned companies like BMW and General Motors. He discusses the importance of retaining talent during team changes and offers strategies for advising strong-willed founders. Forster reflects on the lessons learned from GM's crisis and emphasizes that boards should concentrate on strategy, people, and execution rather than governance. He also explores the emerging risks in the defense sector and the relevance of R&D investments.
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Prioritise Political Intelligence
- When operating in foreign political contexts, get advisors who truly understand local stakeholders and politics.
- Invest in experienced, sensitive communication to manage government and public relations.
Two Pillars Of Industrial Success
- Industrial success depends on differentiated products and continuous R&D investment to stay relevant.
- Operational excellence—safety, quality and continuous productivity improvements—is equally critical.
Make 3–5% Productivity A Mandate
- Drive a 3–5% per annum productivity improvement into manufacturing as a non-negotiable rhythm.
- Without continuous productivity gains you risk becoming too expensive or uncompetitive.
