APC 1998 Annual Report Download - page 11

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9
>
Are you aiming for internal growth
or external growth?
We’re going for growth in our core businesses,
wherever it fits our strategy and financial criteria.
To my mind, accelerating our profitable development
is the absolute priority. Matching market growth is
not enough--I intend to make sure that we grow
faster than our markets.We have defined ambitious
yet realistic goals.Within our present scope of
consolidation, our efforts will focus on broadening
our lineup, expanding our geographic market
share, creating new products and services, and
adding to our large corporate accounts worldwide.
Meanwhile, we will seek to acquire healthy
companies that will enhance our product offer
and increase our market share in our two core
businesses.
>
Does growth require a reduction
in costs?
Definitely. Here too, our goals are ambitious yet
realistic. We will do all we can to trim costs.
Given our sound financial and business
fundamentals, these efforts may come as a surprise,
but I can assure you that they’re indispensable.
T he drive will concentrate on structural costs,
and we will achieve savings in the broadest way
possible: all offices, all departments and all
countries without exception will be concerned.
By freeing our enterprise from a number of
physical and organizational burdens, this com-
munity-wide effort will give Schneider Electric
the resources it needs for long-term expansion
and profitability.
>
Scheider 2000 is now called
Schneider 2000+: why the plus sign?
T he initial purpose of Schneider 2000 was to
help us move ahead, become more productive,
and set our sights higher. I fully approve these
goals, and that’s why I feel they should stay on
our agenda beyond 2000. In other words,
Schneider 2000+ will maintain Schneider 2000’s
objectives and take them even farther. Everyone
in the Company needs to buy into these goals,
which place special emphasis on profitable growth,
cost cutting, and changing our habits. Thanks
to all the people at Schneider Electric, we have
the confidence and determination to achieve
these objectives, which will create value for our
shareholders, customers, and employees.
Henri Lachmann
Chairman and CEO
Interview with the Chairman