Mr. Gadowski, with Mr. Abendroth you are just bringing a manager from one of the largest suppliers in the world into the company. Do you want to get into automobile production?
Sven Astheimer
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Gadowski: No, definitely not.
The automotive industry is a huge, very established industry that is already in a state of total upheaval due to electrification and networking.
We want to be there at the next disruption.
And that will take place in aviation.
Not much has changed there for a long time.
But now completely new applications are possible thanks to new technologies and materials.
That is why we focus on this field and want to be at the forefront of development.
Why are you getting an automotive manager of all people for this project?
Gadowski: Because the patterns in both industries are very similar: the car is developing into a moving computer, and the new aircraft will be flying computers.
I started with the Internet, something new and digital emerged back then.
Now comes the next wave, in which hardware and software are connected and all processes are digitized.
In addition, both industries are facing extensive electrification, the safety requirements are very high in each case, and large series production has to be carried out.
The requirements for managing supply chains and costs are also similar.
Mr. Abendroth, so you just lift off the ground and into the air?
Abendroth: It won't be easy.
I still have to learn a lot and acquire things.
But I have a few good qualifications and the framework conditions are ideal.
How did Lukasz Gadowski convince you to leave Continental?
Abendroth: There were two main reasons.
On the one hand, it was important to me to feel that there was a great deal of mutual trust.
Lukasz Gadowski thinks long term;
even in difficult phases he carries out a project and brings it to the goal.
On the other hand, I asked him: Are you ready to make significant investments yourself and to work out with me in dialogue what the new topic looks like?
At some point he said yes.
As you can see, the whole thing has developed.
You came to Conti as head of technology to convert the automotive supplier into a software company. Has this mission actually been completed? Or did you cancel it?
Abendroth: No, I did not flee Continental.
I was on full duty until the last day of work.
I am sure that Continental is on the right track and that I was able to do my part.
Now was the right time for me, and I see myself at the right age to try something completely new with my experience.
I've always longed to take on overall responsibility at some point and form a brand with a focus on technology.
That is exactly my passion.
But you give up the secure corporate world. Because you think that the future belongs to startups?
Abendroth: I got to know both worlds and made a very, very conscious decision. The risks are generally greater with a start-up. You have to weigh that carefully. But I believe that we currently have an almost optimal environment for our pioneering work. We don't even start on the green field. Team Global has a great portfolio in which there are already many innovative technologies whose synergies we can identify and develop. A start-up company can and must focus on one thing, then it can work. And I think we can make a difference in aviation and give the whole industry a boost.