"I want to get to know the China that's not in the guidebook"

When are you relocating to China? Which city will you be based in? Are you moving with your family and pets?

I will be relocating in Shanghai as soon as possible, once all paperwork will be cleared. Then two weeks in quarantine and finally I will be able to start working in person with my team here in Shanghai – I am so much looking forward to that moment!   I am moving with my husband, who is also working for Rolls Royce Power System and we are planning to live in Shanghai Puxi, not sure yet where exactly.

What would be the first thing you do once you moved to China?

It is quite clear to me that the first thing first to do is to humbly get to know the country and its people – this is my plan! I am eager to learn about its history, culture, traditions, customs, language - with all its subtleties and nuances, the way Chinese people think and act, their way of life and how they do business.

Since I left Italy many years ago, I´ve always focused to align myself to the local   behaviors and mindset, to integrate in the local communities, as a form of respect   - as an ancient Chinese proverb says“ Rivers  and mountains may  change;  human  nature, never.” So, I hope the team will help me on this. Then, I would like to set a plan for my first 100 days   - clear tasks and   direction together with my new team.

Rolls-Royce Power Systems had a great year last year. What are your top priorities for the business this year?

The Chinese market is one of the most important markets for Rolls-Royce Power Systems and we see huge growth potential. However, we can only be successful in China by increasing our local presence even more and further push our ‘Local for Local’ strategy that we started last year and implement now step-by-step. We will expand our team, especially with focus on local R&D, Sourcing and Sales to further increase our excellent market share – and we will keep developing and strengthening local partnerships.

The challenge of how we will be able to onboard new employees and equip them for the opportunities   in our marketplace at our high speed, the so-called China Speed, drives me. And talent development as well as   succession planning will be   clear priorities for me.  

Another area of   interest is the   transition from being an engine manufacturer to become an integrated solution provider in China -   we're currently setting-up a systems assembly facility for Diesel Systems for the high-end data center market to be able going forward to act even faster, more cost-effectively and more independently in this rapidly growing segment.

How different is the Chinese market compared to Europe and the rest of the world in your view?

I see some big differentiators, starting of course   from the demographics: China, in 2019, was close to   1.5 billion people, compared to 450m in Europe and 330m in US. The magnitude of the needs coming out from such great population is speaking by itself: 1 out of every 5 people   in the world   live in this dynamic economy. And this of course means also huge workforce, which push the growth

Then – despite Europe being the second largest economy in the world in  nominal terms, after the  United States, and being the third one in  purchasing power parity (PPP)  terms, after  China  and the United States, it has some many conflicts coming out from the political and geographical segmentation. China instead   can play a different game, talking about one united country – and his economic leadership is clear looking at the GDP growth of the last 30 years.

Finally I see the increase of consumption and the rise of middle class as the strong engine behind the fast capacity of growing, compared to the rest of the world, even if China is universally know as strong international trader

What are the unique opportunities that lie ahead in China for Rolls-Royce Power Systems?

The role infrastructure and enhanced connectivity has played in China’s development and growth over the past years is undisputed. We see strong synergies between companies that provide safe, reliable, efficient, and clean equipment and China’s ambitious growth plans.  

Especially in the emergency standby power market which is driven by construction of infrastructure, like hospitals or high-end buildings, and an increasing need for secure power supply of critical applications, like big data centers, Rolls-Royce Power Systems can provide excellent solutions. Furthermore, with our Green and Hightech Program, we provide forward-looking answers to the growing challenges of the mobility and energy transition towards more sustainable solutions. As part of the program, we have recently launched for example Microgrids that combine renewable energy with reliable power generators or mtu hybrid ship  propulsion systems for yachts, workboats, ferries.

What do you think is the biggest challenge to overcome for the business in China?

The Chinese high-speed off-highway market is very fast-changing, and customers expect us to keep up with this pace. Also, the competitive pressure is high with both international players and local engine manufactures. Therefore, it is necessary to further accelerate our local footprint and local parts sourcing. Also, it is necessary to have an agile and creative organization that always strives to find the best solution for our customers. We must embrace the challenge of finding the perfect solution for our customer’s unique power requirements. This is the pioneering spirit that drives Rolls-Royce Power Systems since over 110 years.