Siemens 2007 Annual Report Download - page 15

Letter to our Shareholders 15
It’s been fi ve months now since I assumed the position of President and CEO of Siemens. This is more
than just another job for me. It’s a challenge that involves a tremendous amount of responsibility, and
one that I’m pleased to accept. I’m proud to be part of this great company, working with our roughly
400,000 employees in nearly 190 countries to lead Siemens into a bright future.
During my fi rst weeks and months at Siemens, I worked hard to familiarize myself with our Company
and the expectations of our various stakeholders. I met with many employees from the Regions and
Groups. I talked with lots of our customers, with business and political leaders in Germany and
abroad, and with you – our investors. And I learned a great deal.
The conclusion I’ve drawn from all these encounters and personal impressions is that Siemens stands
for technological excellence, innovation, high quality and reliability. And we’re proving this to our cus-
tomers every single day. With our trailblazing products, systems and solutions, we’re setting standards
that apply even to our competitors. Siemens is also synonymous with worldwide presence, global
scope and innovative strength. This is the tradition in which our Company is rooted – a tradition that
continues to thrive today and on which we’ll build in the future.
A hundred and sixty years of success
On October 12, 1847, Werner von Siemens and his partner Johann Georg Halske founded Tele-
graphen-Bauanstalt von Siemens & Halske in Berlin, laying the cornerstone for a unique success story.
From the very beginning, Werner von Siemens aspired to market his innovations beyond Germany’s
borders. Envisioning a global enterprise, he opened the company’s fi rst representative offi ce in London
in 1850. Just three years later, he expanded his business eastward to begin the construction of the
Russian telegraph network. Further international activities followed.
In 160 years, Siemens has grown from its two founders to some 400,000 employees all around the
world, from a backyard workshop in Berlin to a global player with a worldwide business volume of
approximately €80 billion – a truly unparalleled success story.
Werner von Siemens’ personal characteristics – a drive to innovate, an international focus and, above
all, a keen sense of responsibility – continue to shape our Company today. Responsible, excellent,
innovative – these are the values that defi ne Siemens.
A successful fi scal 2007
Despite the challenges confronting us, we generated outstanding income from continuing operations
in fi scal 2007 – 48 percent above the already impressive prior-year fi gure. New orders rose 12 percent
to €83.9 billion, and sales climbed nine percent to €72.4 billion, with double-digit organic growth in
both of these areas.