Joe Kaeser (born Josef Käser; 23 June 1957) is a German manager who was CEO of Siemens AG from 2013 to 2021.
Early life Kaeser was born in Arnbruck, in the Bavarian Forest in West Germany, on June 23, 1957. He spent his early life in education throughout Germany. Following his studies in business administration at the Regensburg University of Applied Sciences, he joined Siemens in 1980.
Career Career at Siemens Kaeser previously held various business administration management positions, including a term at the Siemens Components Operations in Malacca, Malaysia (1987–1988). In 1990 he was appointed vice president of business administration of the Opto Semiconductors Division. In 1994 Kaeser first was executive vice president and chief financial officer, and later CEO of the group's American subsidiary Siemens Components, located in Cupertino, California, as well as at Siemens Microelectronics, in neighboring San Jose.
In 1999 Kaeser joined Corporate Finance where he was responsible for developing a company-wide performance controlling system. During this time he also shared oversight for preparing the company's stock market listing in New York and the worldwide conversion of its accounting system to US GAAP.
From April 2001 to September 2004, Kaeser was a member of the group executive committee of IC Mobile and was its chief financial officer, where he was especially active in managing and restructuring its finance exposure from customer loans and working capital management.
In his former function as chief strategy officer, Kaeser supported CEO Dr. Klaus Kleinfeld in the design and execution of the Fit4More transformation program, as well as the long-term orientation of the company's strategies on global megatrends.
CEO of Siemens, 2013–2021 In July 2013 it was announced that Kaeser would replace Peter Löscher as the CEO of the Siemens AG.
Since 2013, Kaeser has accompanied Chancellor Angela Merkel on nine state visits abroad,Christian Schlesiger (September 8, 2017), Siemens-Chef Kaeser am häufigsten bei Delegationsreisen dabei Wirtschaftswoche. including to China (2014, 2016,Stephan Scheuer and Thomas Sigmund (June 13, 2016), Merkel in China: In heikler Mission Handelsblatt. 2018)René Pfister (May 24, 2018), Merkel in China Beim elften Besuch ist alles anders Spiegel Online. India (2015),Stefan Braun (October 5, 2015), Staatsbesuch in Indien: Die Krise fliegt mit Süddeutsche Zeitung. Egypt (2017),Johannes Leithäuser (March 2, 2017), Merkel in Ägypten: Gesten und Inszenierungen Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Tunisia (2017), Argentina (2017), Mexico (2017) and Saudi Arabia (2017).Merkel beim schwierigen Partner Deutsche Welle, April 30, 2017. He also travelled with Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel to the US and Mexico in 2017.
During the Hannover Messe in April 2016, Kaeser was among the 15 German CEOs who were invited to a private dinner with US President Barack Obama.Hans von der Burchard (April 25, 2016), Politico Pro’s Morning Trade: Breaking bread with the president Politico Europe. He was also part of Merkel's delegation on the occasion of her first visit to US President Donald Trump in March 2017.Georgina Prodhan (13 March 2017), Captains of German industry to accompany Merkel on Trump trip Reuters. At the 2018 World Economic Forum in Davos, he attended a dinner for Trump with a group of European CEOs.Jennifer Jacobs (January 25, 2018), Here's Who's Having Dinner With Trump at Davos Bloomberg News.
In January 2020 Kaeser along with the Siemens board of directors invited an environmental activist a role on its board as it made a decision with mining giant Adani.
Russian visit during the 2014 annexation of Crimea
Kaeser travelled to Russia to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in April 2014 to re-affirm Siemens' commitment to Russian profits despite widespread international condemnation of Russian military intervention. The move was widely criticized in the Western World, including by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. However Kaeser wasn't the only one who had a more pro-Russian mood at that time; many other prominent Germans like former chancellors Helmut Schmidt and Gehard Schroeder voiced their concern for more understanding of Russia's views, including some in Merkel's own party, like Peter Gauweiler or Armin Laschet, who all faced criticism in the German Press. Later, former US Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski revealed that the former World Bank Chief Robert Zoellick aggressively pressured Kaeser due to his Russian visit. Zoellick reminded Kaeser that his company has more business in the United States than in Russia, and it would have negative consequences if he kept following the Russian path.
Later career In 2023, EIG Global Energy Partners appointed Kaeser as Senior Advisor.EIG Hires Joe Kaeser, Former Siemens AG CEO, as Senior Advisor EIG Global Energy Partners, press release of 17 April 2023
Other activities Corporate boards Linde plc, Member of the board of directors (since 2021)Linde Board Elects Two New Directors and Adds Sustainability Committee Linde plc, press release of 25 October 2021. Daimler Truck, Chair of the supervisory board (since 2021)Ex-Siemens-Chef Kaeser soll Aufsichtsratschef bei Daimler Truck werden Handelsblatt, 23 April 2021. Siemens Energy AG, Chair of the supervisory board (since 2020)Supervisory Board of Siemens Energy AG Siemens Energy AG. Allianz Deutschland AG, Member of the supervisory board JPMorgan Chase, Member of the International Council (since 2015)2015 Annual Report JPMorgan Chase. NXP Semiconductors, Member of the board of directors (2010–2022)Board of Directors NXP Semiconductors. Daimler AG, Member of the supervisory board (2014–2021)Members of the Supervisory Board: Joe Kaeser Daimler AG.
Non-profit organizations Munich Security Conference, Chair of the Advisory Council (since 2023)Advisory Council Munich Security Conference. Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA), Chairman (since 2019)Dana Heide and Axel Höpner (October 8, 2018), Der Siemens-Chef soll den Asien-Pazifik-Ausschuss anführen Handelsblatt. Federation of German Industries (BDI), Member of the Presidium (2017–2019)Presidium Federation of German Industries (BDI). European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT), MemberMembers European Round Table of Industrialists. Baden-Badener Unternehmer-Gespräche (BBUG), Member of the board of trusteesBoard of Trustees Baden-Badener Unternehmer-Gespräche (BBUG). Deutscher Zukunftspreis, Member of the board of trusteesBoard of Trustees Deutscher Zukunftspreis. European School of Management and Technology (ESMT), Member of the board of trusteesBoard of Trustees European School of Management and Technology (ESMT). Goethe Institute, Member of the Business and Industry Advisory BoardOrganization Goethe Institute. Technical University of Munich (TUM), Member of the board of trusteesBoard of Trustees Technical University of Munich (TUM). Trilateral Commission, Member of the European GroupMembership Trilateral Commission. Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft, Member of the BoardBoard Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft. World Economic Forum Member of Board of Trustees
Honours Grand Cross of the Order of Entrepreneurial Merit (Industrial Class), Portugal (13 May 2015) 2017 – Prize for Understanding and Tolerance, awarded by the Jewish Museum BerlinPrize for Understanding and Tolerance Jewish Museum Berlin.
References
External links
Shaping the Future. The Siemens Entrepreneurs 1847–2018. Ed. Siemens Historical Institute, Hamburg 2018, . Presidents and Chief Executive Officers of Siemens AG Intellectual sponsor and speaker at the 2016 Future of Leadership Initiative: Meaning@Work