PETpla.net Insider 12 / 2018

TOP TALK PET planet Insider Vol. 19 No. 12/18 www.petpla.net 10 Interview with Kai Acker, Chairman of the Executive Management Board at KHS GmbH at Brau Beviale Nuremberg, Germany Structure and order by Alexander Büchler Kai Acker has been Chairman of the Executive Management Board at KHS GmbH for a few weeks now. We spoke to him about his first impressions, his management style and the stimuli he wants to create within the company. Top of his agenda are “structure and order” for the benefit of customers and the company. CV Kai Acker  Since 10/15/2018 Chairman of the Executive Management Board at KHS GmbH, Dortmund  2012 to 2018 Management roles at Leoni Special Cables GmbH  2006 to 2012 Management roles at Krones AG  1997 to 2006 various activities in industry and research  Until 1997 training as an Energy Electronics Engineer, General Electrical Engineering at RWTH Aachen  MBA at TU Munich  Born in 1968 PETplanet: Mr Acker, for a few days now you have been Chairman of the Executive Management Board at KHS GmbH. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Heinz Jörg Fuhrmann, Chairman of the Execu- tive Board at Salzgitter AG said: “I am sure that Mr Acker will create vital stimuli for the growth-oriented devel- opment of the KHS Group.” What kind of stimuli did he mean? Acker: There will certainly be a few. First and foremost, I have used these first days for a great deal of observation. Previously, I attended the in-house exhibition at KHS Corpo- plast, and I was also able to gather some impressions of our customers, employees and suppliers at China Brew China Beverage. I think that structure and order do a company a lot of good. But we will also be look- ing to close some gaps in our full range of services. Furthermore, we have several projects already on the go that have not been completed yet. We will continue to develop these in a targeted way or make the decision not to pursue them further. PETplanet: What are you thinking of here? Acker: In our full portfolio, I’m thinking of the aseptic rotary block. It will be with us as soon as possible. In the labelling sector, there are still gaps and in the full line range there is still room for expansion. The technol- ogy will be thrilling. PETplanet: You are talking about the stimuli of structure and order. You worked for many years for a provider of beverage systems, which has basically increased in size through organic growth. Now you are manag- ing a company that has been created through mergers and acquisitions. Is that a challenge for you or do you see it as an opportunity? Acker: It’s quite clearly an oppor- tunity! If we channel these different cultures and bring them together in one direction, that is surely a benefit to customers and the entire company. For the last six years, I worked at Leoni Special Cables. There, we had German engineering, Chinese produc- tion and American customers. There is plenty to transfer to KHS from this mix. PETplanet: What management style will you use to implement these objectives? Acker: I have a cooperative management style; I give employees plenty of trust, delegate responsibil- ity and so build individual motivation. But I absolutely draw the line at telling lies. PETplanet: For many consumers, plastic packaging is seen in a poor light and is a synonym for increasing environmental pollution. Legal regula- tions are increasingly restricting the use of plastic. How do you see the responsibility of KHS with regard to this topical issue? Acker: Of course, as a con- sumer I see the mountains of plastic, too. Many plastics can certainly be replaced, but I see no alternative to the PET bottle. It’s different for sec- ondary packaging and here we have developed the Nature MultiPack which Carlsberg introduced to the market under the name Snap Pack, for exam- ple. Instead of film around multiple cans, we stick the cans together. Danone Waters used our solution for PET bottles under the name Evian Prestige. Here too, we stick the PET bottles together and do without film entirely. PETplanet: Mr Acker, in the past you often spent 6 years at the same company; where will you stand with KHS in 6 years? Acker: It is my aim to think in the long term, so KHS and I will hopefully work together for the coming 6 years or even longer. Through strengthened customer service, a full-range portfolio and simultaneously improving the company structure, we will generate profitable growth for the benefit of customers and the company. PETplanet: Many thanks, Mr Acker. Effective October 15, Kay Acker has become the new KHS GmbH Executive Management Board Chairman.