Within the EVOMOTIV GmbH is facing major changes: After more than 15 years as managing director, our founder Gerhard Krebs is leaving the management at the end of this month. From January 1, 2024, he will reduce his working hours to 40%. From now on, his focus will be on personnel development and site development.
As of the above date, the management team will be expanded to include a new member: Arthur Kessler. Arthur has been with EVOMOTIV - a man who has been there from the start. He has successfully managed the automated driving, complete vehicle and driving dynamics departments. He will continue to assume these responsibilities in his new position.
You can find out more about this in the following interview.
Gerhard, after more than 15 years you are stepping down from management at the turn of the year. Let's take a look back: What prompted you to do this EVOMOTIV to found?
The desire to become an entrepreneur arose early in my childhood. My father, a civil servant at the railway, inspired me indirectly through his work in the area of new line management. He worked closely with many engineering firms in the construction sector. At a number of parties and events, I met several founders and managing directors of the planning firms, which sparked my interest in business management.
At my previous employer, where I got to know Lukas and Sebastian, we experienced how you can be successful with good project work. If you hire the right people, offer a good service and add value to the customer, it can work very well. We wanted to continue the good aspects there at EVO and also implement some new ideas. This resulted in our strategy, which is still valid today, and a successful company with almost 450 employees.
How does it feel for you to step down from your role after more than 15 years as managing director?
The feeling is definitely one of positive ambivalence. Looking back on the company that has grown and matured fills me with pride. I see the step of taking on new things in my private life and handing over responsibility as an exciting opportunity for personal development. Of course, there is also a certain sadness about no longer being able to make every decision and letting go of the "grown-up baby" to some extent.
The Christmas party was a particularly beautiful moment in this respect. My wife and I were able to have positive conversations among the people celebrating exuberantly, which were marked by a lot of appreciation for this step. This was a very fulfilling confirmation for us.
What do you consider to be your greatest achievements during your time as CEO?
An outstanding success during my time as Managing Director was undoubtedly winning the German Education Award. This impressive experience of winning the award by a large margin and celebrating it at an outstanding event will remain unforgettable.
I also see the further development of our service portfolio as an outstanding achievement. We started with on-site services. Today, around two thirds of the projects are run internally, with our own equipment, our own facilities, our own structure and our own responsibility.
There are many aspects and projects that I would like to think of over time. It is fascinating to look back and see the many people who have now taken on responsibility and are doing a great job.
I consider it a great success in the recent past that I have gradually become dispensable. This applies especially to areas such as marketing, facilities and office and gives me the good feeling that EVO will continue to function well.
Can you tell us a little more about your decision to leave management?
Even as a student, I set myself the goal of being able to retire at the age of 50. This decision was based, among other things, on the experiences of a manager at Coca-Cola, whom I was able to win over as a sponsor for our student initiative when I was a student. We had a good connection and I found his personality very interesting. After he left, he told me how fantastic it was to now have time for other things in the best of health - his family, his parents, travel and more. That impressed me and became one of my life goals.
Now, at 52, I am looking forward to realizing my long-held goal. Although I am leaving management, I am still enthusiastic about being involved in two areas that give me great pleasure: employee development and the development of new locations. The fact that we are now also involved internationally makes the task particularly exciting.
What will be your main tasks in site and personnel development?
Basically, I see my new role as a coach and consultant, without having direct responsibility. This definitely results in a completely different approach. Up until now, I was at the top with Lukas and Sebastian and made the decisions. Now, as a “free radical”, I will be flexible in terms of time and location, supporting others in making good decisions for themselves and the company. I will also act as a coach and mentor during the standard setup to ensure that new locations integrate and live our values, processes and ideas. To personally support the location managers and to use my experience from 17 years EVOMOTIV I see this as a great and exciting task.
What are your goals for location and personnel development at EVOMOTIV?
Specifically, in 2024 I would like to establish EVOMOTIV in Bosnia and the Czech Republic. Bosnia is scheduled to start operations in June, followed by the Czech Republic in the third or fourth quarter at the latest. It may sound ambitious, but I am confident that it is feasible.
In personnel development, I would like to train team leaders and specialist speakers in yet to be defined focus groups together with Miri, our education officer, in addition to my role as trainer in the support group and in many general soft skills training courses. This will take place in junior and master classes, similar to what is already happening with project coordinators. Another task will be to be available as a career coach. In the first step, employees from the support group level, and if time permits, perhaps even for anyone who is interested. The idea is to provide a fixed point, regardless of the respective management structure, in order to support the colleagues on their individual path in the long term.
How do you see the future of EVOMOTIV under your new role?
I see my new role as a good synergy that will allow me to continue to make a valuable contribution. I want to play a formative role in shaping the company culture by living our values and inspiring young talent.
Since I will of course remain a shareholder, I am very interested in EVOMOTIV continues to be successful and acts according to the previous strategies. I think the joint decision to include Arthur in the management team is very positive. There will certainly be changes, as Arthur will bring his own strengths and perspectives. This will require a certain amount of adjustment time for the new management team and the entire company. I am confident that EVOMOTIV will remain successful in the future.
How will your move affect the company culture?
In my opinion, my move will have far less of an impact on the company culture than some people assume. Arthur - who has been with us since the beginning - shares our values 100%. In my new position, I can continue to play an active role in shaping the culture. Our clear intention is to maintain the successful concept that combines success with fun at work.
It is important that everyone here at EVO works every day to maintain our culture and our values despite changes and growth: Let us live our vision of “Inspiring people – developing values” in our actions internally and externally and thus make a positive contribution to a world worth living in!
Is there anything else you would like to share?
I would like to express my sincere thanks to the many people who have contributed EVOMOTIV to make it what it is today. It was a joint effort in which many people pulled together and continue to do so.
Special thanks go to Lukas and Sebastian, of course. The collaboration was not only great at all times, but also extremely successful. In my opinion, we managed to combine success and fun at work. I find that really remarkable and extraordinary.
Dear Gerhard, thank you for the informative conversation! The insights into your thoughts and plans for the future of EVOMOTIV were extremely interesting. We wish you every success on your future path and are excited about future developments. Thank you for your time and openness.
