Trumpf, Sharepoint, BP, Stellantis, Elkann – that was Monday, July 21, 2025

The signal-setters met today in the Chancellery: host Friedrich Merz (69) had invited people to a mood-lifting investment summit, and a PR initiative consisting of 61 prominent companies announced their intention to invest heavily in Germany by 2028 – an average of more than 10 billion euros per signatory.

My colleague Claus Gorgs demonstrates the hard work required for justified optimism in his profile of the mechanical engineering company Trumpf . The Swabian family business, part of the Group of 61, is one of Germany's most innovative medium-sized enterprises. It recently received the Game Changer Award from manager magazine and the management consultancy Bain . Trumpf technology is found in every smartphone, and laser technology from Ditzingen is central to ASML , the Dutch de facto monopolist whose facilities are needed worldwide to manufacture the most sophisticated computer chips.

Trumpf is investing, even and especially during the crisis. Find out here which innovative products the specialist has already developed and where CEO Nicola Leibinger-Kammüller (65) is still cutting costs.

• Patricia Schlesinger (64), the former RBB director general who was dismissed without notice three years ago, is entering the consulting industry. Effective immediately , she has accepted a position with the Berlin-based executive consulting firm Stella Circle , my colleague Henning Hinze reports. The legal dispute over her pension and damages claims from the public broadcaster ended just last week.

• The oil company BP is getting a new chairman. Albert Manifold (62), former head of the Irish building materials group CRH , will take over from Helge Lund (62) at the beginning of October. BP intends to refocus more on its core oil and gas business. Its stock has been performing worse than that of other major oil companies for years.

• Social scientist and HR consultant David Livermore calls the sensitivity managers need with international teams "cultural intelligence." Without a sense for the appropriate tone in a given environment, statements can backfire badly. Livermore explains a fundamental problem in Harvard Business Manager : People from collectivist cultures—70 percent of employees worldwide—have little use for the individualistic management style of the West. As a result, what we recommend—autonomy and psychological safety for employees, a focus on differences, and a high level of transparency—is rather irritating to collectivists.

• Back to the meeting in the Chancellery. Also present was John Elkann (49), on the list in his capacity as chairman of the supervisory board and major shareholder of the car manufacturer Stellantis . The global corporation, which includes Opel , reported deep red figures today . Elkann's own portfolio, however, is considerably more extensive and has developed magnificently over the years: the grandson of the legendary Fiat patriarch Gianni Agnelli (1921–2003), has made the family holding company Exor a model for other dynasties; in addition to Stellantis, his empire also includes companies such as Iveco and Philips , the now multi-billion dollar luxury icon Ferrari and prestigious investments such as Juventus Turin and the "Economist". My colleague Margret Hucko met with the Italian strategist and model billionaire and explained how he cultivates his networks and arranges his deals .

I wish you a nice evening Yours Christian Schütte

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