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Hard work earns an award for Swedish businessman
By Lu Xiaofeng and Tom Qian |
September 28, 2009, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
TORBJORN Sternsjo, from Sweden, was honored with a Magnolia Award from the Shanghai municipal government recently for his 10 years' contribution to the city's development.
"I can't feel the rapid development of Jiading now as I have got used to the pace here," he said.
Sternsjo came to Jiading in 1999 to serve as general manager of Sapa Heat Transfer Shanghai Ltd. Prior to this, he was the manager of logistics in Sapa Group of Sweden. Sapa Heat Transfer Shanghai Ltd was set up in 1996 in Jiading District.
When Sternsjo joined Sapa Shanghai, there were only 30 employees. Poor performance and unclear targets troubled him at that time. But thanks to his management, his team has been led out of troubled waters. Now, Sapa Shanghai has 370 employees with a total investment of US$142 million and an expanded facility of 53,360 square meters.
As business developed rapidly, Sapa Heat Transfer Shanghai Ltd faced a capacity bottleneck in 2004. Sternsjo lobbied the headquarters and obtained an investment of nearly 150 million yuan (US$21.93 million), which enabled a doubling of capacity. In November 2007, he was promoted to president of Sapa Asia.
"We supply our products to car manufacturers. Now Jiading has been developed into a car city with complete industry chain, which is very favorable for our development," he said. "It can be seen not only on sales of products but also in talent recruitment."
In recent years, Sternsjo has established cooperation with aluminum industry associations and Shanghai Aluminum Trade Association to promote the idea of environmentally friendly aluminum and make contributions to China's sustainable development.
As the chairman of non-ferrous metal industry of the European Union Chamber of Commerce, Sternsjo has met the heads of related Chinese government departments in Beijing to discuss ideas and advice on how to continue the development of the industry in China.
As a leader of his company, Sternsjo cares a lot for his employees. Whenever an employee gets married, he will attend the ceremony so long as he is in town.
Most of the wedding ceremonies are held in the countryside since many of the workers are from rural areas.
"The traditional Chinese wedding ceremonies are interesting, so different from European weddings, so for me every wedding ceremony here is a feast," Sternsjo said.
In the past 10 years, one employee after another got married, but he remained single.
"Maybe because I paid too much attention to the work, I forgot to find a wife," Sternsjo laughed.
To strengthen the relationship between employees and his company, Sternsjo suggested holding a family day every year with all the employees and their families attending.
Through the family day activities, he is able to pass on information about the company to employees and let their families know about their working environment.
In addition, the company provides training opportunities for employees. His company also provides car subsidies, and now more than 170 employees have their own cars. The most obvious and effective result is retaining talent with less than 5 percent of employees leaving annually, a statistic which helped Sternsjo receive a best employer award.
Golf, singing and gym are Sternsjo's favorite activities.
As he is busy at work, golf and fitness are luxuries for him.
When he's in a good mood, he would hum a tune and whenever he goes to KTVs with employees or friends, he will surely play the leading role.
Sternsjo is enthusiastic about charity work. Every year he joins in the Greatest Love under the Sky charity activity.
In 2008 Sapa Shanghai donated 70,000 yuan and gave another 200,000 yuan after the devastating earthquake in Sichuan Province in May, 2008.
Sapa Shanghai started construction of its new facility in Jiading Industry Zone in November 2008 despite the global financial crisis.
"I can't feel the rapid development of Jiading now as I have got used to the pace here," he said.
Sternsjo came to Jiading in 1999 to serve as general manager of Sapa Heat Transfer Shanghai Ltd. Prior to this, he was the manager of logistics in Sapa Group of Sweden. Sapa Heat Transfer Shanghai Ltd was set up in 1996 in Jiading District.
When Sternsjo joined Sapa Shanghai, there were only 30 employees. Poor performance and unclear targets troubled him at that time. But thanks to his management, his team has been led out of troubled waters. Now, Sapa Shanghai has 370 employees with a total investment of US$142 million and an expanded facility of 53,360 square meters.
As business developed rapidly, Sapa Heat Transfer Shanghai Ltd faced a capacity bottleneck in 2004. Sternsjo lobbied the headquarters and obtained an investment of nearly 150 million yuan (US$21.93 million), which enabled a doubling of capacity. In November 2007, he was promoted to president of Sapa Asia.
"We supply our products to car manufacturers. Now Jiading has been developed into a car city with complete industry chain, which is very favorable for our development," he said. "It can be seen not only on sales of products but also in talent recruitment."
In recent years, Sternsjo has established cooperation with aluminum industry associations and Shanghai Aluminum Trade Association to promote the idea of environmentally friendly aluminum and make contributions to China's sustainable development.
As the chairman of non-ferrous metal industry of the European Union Chamber of Commerce, Sternsjo has met the heads of related Chinese government departments in Beijing to discuss ideas and advice on how to continue the development of the industry in China.
As a leader of his company, Sternsjo cares a lot for his employees. Whenever an employee gets married, he will attend the ceremony so long as he is in town.
Most of the wedding ceremonies are held in the countryside since many of the workers are from rural areas.
"The traditional Chinese wedding ceremonies are interesting, so different from European weddings, so for me every wedding ceremony here is a feast," Sternsjo said.
In the past 10 years, one employee after another got married, but he remained single.
"Maybe because I paid too much attention to the work, I forgot to find a wife," Sternsjo laughed.
To strengthen the relationship between employees and his company, Sternsjo suggested holding a family day every year with all the employees and their families attending.
Through the family day activities, he is able to pass on information about the company to employees and let their families know about their working environment.
In addition, the company provides training opportunities for employees. His company also provides car subsidies, and now more than 170 employees have their own cars. The most obvious and effective result is retaining talent with less than 5 percent of employees leaving annually, a statistic which helped Sternsjo receive a best employer award.
Golf, singing and gym are Sternsjo's favorite activities.
As he is busy at work, golf and fitness are luxuries for him.
When he's in a good mood, he would hum a tune and whenever he goes to KTVs with employees or friends, he will surely play the leading role.
Sternsjo is enthusiastic about charity work. Every year he joins in the Greatest Love under the Sky charity activity.
In 2008 Sapa Shanghai donated 70,000 yuan and gave another 200,000 yuan after the devastating earthquake in Sichuan Province in May, 2008.
Sapa Shanghai started construction of its new facility in Jiading Industry Zone in November 2008 despite the global financial crisis.
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