What Makes a Great Business Leader Now?
Given the unrelenting turmoil and shifts in the world, what was needed to succeed as a business leader before is very likely inadequate today and tomorrow.
Explore the qualities, skills, and aptitudes common to top-performing leaders as three experienced CEOs share their thoughts and insights on the kind of leadership we need now given the multiple challenges businesses—and all of us—are facing. You can listen to our guest speakers as well as the lively roundtable discussion.
In this webinar, RHR Senior Partner Simon Callow led an informative discussion among three top CEOs:
- Lionel Desclée (former CEO of The Very Group and Walmart Japan.)
- Katy Dowding (CEO of Skanska UK)
- Gilles Andrier (CEO of Givaudan)
“What Makes a Great Business Leader Now?” explored the increasing need for leaders to develop a compelling vision, set clear directions, and reinvent themselves and their roles as they leverage the promise of emerging technologies like AI and deal with a deeply challenging global environment.
Our speakers shared examples of how important it is to have the courage to make big decisions despite overwhelming uncertainty and addressed how and why leadership coaching can help CEOs and other business leaders adapt to meet new challenges and opportunities.
Our Speakers
Lionel Desclée is the former CEO for The Very Group, operator of multicategory digital retailers Very and Littlewoods. Lionel joined The Very Group from McKinsey & Company, where he was a senior advisor. He previously was President and CEO of Walmart in Japan, where he led a 35,000-strong team at Seiyu, the Japanese supermarket business with a significant food and non-food presence. Under Lionel’s stewardship, Seiyu accelerated its move into digital through a joint venture with online retailer Rakuten. Prior to Walmart Japan, Lionel led the Leverage Buyout and was CEO of European Petcare retailer Tom&Co.
Katy Dowding was appointed new business unit president for Skanska UK in 2023. Over her 20-year career with Skanska, she has held a diverse range of commercial, operational, and strategic leadership roles, including managing director of Skanska UK’s facilities-management operation for five years. From 2017 to 2023, she held the role of executive vice president, with responsibility for Skanska UK’s building and building services businesses.
Gilles Andrier spent the first part of his career with Accenture in management consulting before joining Givaudan in 1993 as Fragrance Division Controller and Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer. He later held various positions including Head of Fragrances Operations in the USA and Head of Consumer Products in Europe. In 2001, he was appointed Head of Fine Fragrances, Europe before becoming Global Head of Fine Fragrances in 2003 and then CEO of Givaudan in 2005.
Simon Callow is a senior partner at RHR International in the UK. A true global citizen, Simon leverages his broad expertise in working internationally to ensure that RHR provides cutting-edge, multicultural solutions. He works extensively with CEOs and their executive leadership teams as an advisor and has led several global human-capital projects.
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