Daikin Central Europe establishes comprehensive Leadership Development Program as part of their growth strategy

People development is one of the pillars supporting Daikin Central Europe’s business strategy Fusion25. It aims for considerable growth scenarios by 2025 and beyond in all business areas – the traditional B2B business, the residential heating business and total solutions. One year ago, the company kicked off the comprehensive Daikin Central Europe Leadership Curriculum. By 2024, more than 170 employees in leadership positions from 16 CE markets will participate in four training modules to enable personal growth in the face of leadership challenges posed by a rapidly developing business. At the Daikin Central Europe Leadership Conference 2023 in Budapest, participants came together to learn from each other and define their contribution as leaders. 

Vienna, Budapest, February 2023 – "At Daikin, we have been committed to people-centered management for nearly a century. I am truly impressed to see how far the Daikin Central Europe region has come and how much it has contributed to our group's success in Europe. It all started with a small team of sales experts in 1999. Today, the organization has more than 600 employees in 16 CE countries. With no less than 250 new colleagues joining the region in the upcoming year, leadership is of utmost importance – not only at the top management, but for everyone leading a project, a team, a business unit or an entire market. We highly appreciate the continuous investment that Daikin Central Europe has made in developing its people. It is on this foundation that their leaders shape the company – not only to be a great place to work, but to be the number one partner for co-creating a unique climate,” said Toshitaka Tsubouchi, President of Daikin Europe Group, in his opening speech at the Leadership Conference 2023 in Budapest. 

Leading yourself, leading others, leading an organization

“This conference was a follow-up of the Daikin Central Europe Leadership Curriculum. We started this tailor-made program in 2022 with the goal of sharing our common vision across 16 markets and supporting leaders in contributing to our ambitious business strategy. Only one year later, the positive impact of the trainings became visible on a large scale. The conference with 170 participants has strengthened our We-culture even further and has shown how everyone is bringing in the full range of their personal talents,” says Carl Lievens, Managing Director Daikin Central Europe.

Exchange of perspectives    

“Welcoming our president Toshitaka Tsubouchi – a thought leader in the group – next to guest speakers from our mother company Daikin Europe was not just an honor. Their participation enabled the exchange of regional and local perspectives. Open talks and the sharing of thoughts were a sign of mutual appreciation and trust. Two days of insightful panel discussions and dialogue formats like fishbowls or market place sessions put strategic topics in the spotlight: Daikin’s proximity strategy, the supply situation in Europe, the growing heating business, total solutions and our traditional B2B business, as well as plenty of inspiring local initiatives,” says Lievens. Accompanied by internal business coaches from Organizational Development and Human Ressources and an external improvisation trainer, the participants experienced how to generate positive energy together and how to overcome personal and organizational patterns that hinder bold action.