Pekka Airola started as the CEO of DA-Group in August. We talked with him about some of the highlights of his first few months on the job. Pekka says – “I have been well received and I have experienced that DA-Group has open-minded people and even world-class talent.”
A LOOK AT THE FIRST FEW MONTHS
Pekka Airola started as the CEO of DA-Group in August. We talked with him about some of the highlights of his first few months on the job. Pekka says that he feels well-received and welcomed. “The people at DA are open to new ideas, and many seem to be waiting for a new direction after the several changes we have been through. We had a few challenging years in the past, but now we have an opportunity to close our ranks and move forward together. Pekka’s schedule has included plenty of one-on-one discussions as well as meetings with bigger groups. He has an ease with people and enjoys making the rounds of the work stations to chat with the employees.
A FUTURE SUCCESS STORY – CREATED TOGETHER WITH CUSTOMERS AND PERSONNEL
DA-Group has had a busy year. A business transaction concerning sea mine technology was concluded in the spring, and the related arrangements have consumed a lot of energy from the management and owners. “Based on this too, we can see that people are waiting to see what is next, what is the future strategy and new success story,” Pekka ponders. DA-Group has world-class experts, and having R&D, production and project management all under one roof is a definite strong point. “The people at DA-Group have an opportunity to learn from each other by working together – there is no ‘us’ and ‘them’ at DA-Group,” Pekka says.
“It has also been great to see how DA-Group’s customer base includes world-class operators,” Pekka adds.
OPENNESS AND WORKING AS A TEAM
For Pekka, it is important that we are as open as possible, that we explain why something is being done, that we share successes and failures and learn from them. Competence is at a good level at DA-Group, but there may still be areas where competence could be strengthened or the organizational structure considered. Pekka realizes that not all talent can be attracted to Forssa and points out that the company also has locations in Helsinki, Kaarina, Tampere and Oulu. “We are not just a ‘Forssa company’. If you are interested in working at DA, you can join, for example, our Oulu location.”
OUTLOOK FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR
DA-Group will complete the strategy work within the next few months. “Over the last couple of years, DA has managed to turn its sub-sea ideas into products and those products into profitable business. We also have several very interesting other projects ranging from trains to radars and satellites, but in certain areas we need to work on profitability. We now have a few years to find the next jewel for our product portfolio, and I’m sure we will implement a few projects along the way,” Pekka says.
TWO MEN WHO LEFT AN IMPRESSION ON DA AND PEKKA
Sami Kotiniemi, the chair of DA-Group’s Board of Directors, has undoubtedly made his mark on DA-Group, and so has Foxconn’s Sam Chin left a strong impression on Pekka. “It is inspiring how Sam Chin was able to adopt broad ideas in both technology and business and crystallize them into a clear message for customers or employees. Sam was also excellent at prioritizing, and he always got things done quickly,” Pekka reminisces.
“Focus on what is important, stay abreast of what is happening, build sufficient knowledge and – when the time is right – make the decision.”