Siemens South Africa has announced the appointment of Stuart Clarkson as Chief Executive Officer with effect from 1 July 2009, replacing outgoing CEO Siegmar Proebstl, who returns to Siemens in Germany.
Siemens AG has landed orders totaling about €1 billion for infrastructure projects in advance of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Most of these orders are connected with the expansion of the country’s energy infrastructure. “Our infrastructure solutions are supporting our partners in South Africa in ensuring the 2010 World Cup will be an emotional highlight for the country,” said Siegfried Russwurm, the member of Siemens’ Managing Board who is responsible for the company’s activities in Africa. “Long after the World Cup is over, the solutions we’re providing in South Africa will continue to bring sustainable improvements in the quality of people’s lives. The products will support the further development of the economy and enhance environmental protection.” Besides contributing a large number of solutions in the areas of power generation and transmission, Siemens is participating in the design of traffic management solutions for mass transit systems and in the improvement of healthcare services. In addition, until now lighting systems from the Siemens subsidiary Osram will be employed in eight of ten World Cup stadiums.
Siemens expects to win new orders of around €15 billion in the next three fiscal years 2010 until 2012, which will be generated by government stimulus programs already announced around the world. Green technologies are expected to account for 40 percent or approximately €6 billion of this total, which will significantly increase the share of the company’s revenues from its environmental portfolio in the future. Siemens based this forecast on an initial systematic analysis of the largest stimulus programs. “With their programs, governments worldwide are sending the right signal. Against the backdrop of the worst global economic crisis in decades, these government measures are at least partially cushioning, in some cases, sharp declines in private-sector demand. They should also have a stabilizing effect on our business,” said Siemens President and CEO Peter Löscher. “In addition, the government programs will safeguard jobs worldwide. The large portion of the investments in environmental technologies will probably create new green jobs as well. This applies particularly to the green infrastructure giant Siemens,” Löscher added.
A survey of 140 mayors from 40 states also highlights concern over potential financial obstacles for infrastructure projects, according to a study sponsored by Siemens for The U.S. Conference of Mayors.
Siemens AG is underlining its position as the leading green infrastructure giant and for the first time is publishing a comprehensive sustainability report. From now on, this report will be issued on an annual basis and thus create even more transparency. “The current crisis makes one thing clear: only sustainable business results in long-term success and profitable growth. With such activities we create threefold value – for society, for the environment and for the company’s employees, customers, suppliers and shareholders,” said Siemens CEO, Peter Löscher. “In future we will be enlarging even more on our concept of sustainability and its practicable application at Siemens,” announced Barbara Kux, Member of the Managing Board and Chief Sustainability Officer. Siemens has considerably expanded its reporting in order to make its progress in the area of sustainable company management clearer and more objectively measurable.
The City of Munich has today received the German Federal Environment Ministry award for “Innovative and exemplary strategies for the implementation of municipal climate protection.” One of nine municipalities to be so honored, the city was signaled out for its Munich for Climate Protection Alliance, which was established in 2007. One of the alliance’s partners was Siemens. “As an active alliance member, Siemens made a substantial contribution to our city’s receiving the municipal climate protection award by providing us with the study ‘Munich – Paths toward a carbon-free future’,” said Munich Deputy Mayor Hep Monatzeder. “We plan to incorporate the study’s key findings into our climate plan,” he added. In the study, the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy was also commissioned by Siemens to develop scenarios for Freiham, a new Munich district, that will likewise be included in the concrete plans. Siemens has commissioned a further study for the so-called European Green City Index – an analysis of 30 European metropolises.
Siemens is acquiring a roughly 25 percent stake in BGZ Beteiligungsgesellschaft Zukunftsenergien AG (BGZ AG). The investment will enable the company to ensure its access to further innovative projects in the field of sustainable power generation and thereby expand its portfolio of products, systems and services. “Siemens is becoming greener. Sustainable power generation is one of our key growth fields,” said Siemens President and CEO Peter Löscher. Headquartered in Husum, Germany, BGZ AG develops, finances and operates regenerative power generation facilities like wind, solar and biomass power plants. With some 140 employees as well as subsidiaries and joint ventures in Europe and the U.S., the company generated revenue of about €50 million in 2008. Regulatory approval of the transaction is still pending. Both companies have agreed not disclose the purchase price.
Siemens is increasing the number of places at its childcare facilities to nearly 800 by 2011, thus further expanding its leading position in this area. “Parents in our company should have optimal opportunities to return to work as soon as possible after their children are born. Careers and children should not be mutually exclusive. That’s why we want to double the number of places at our childcare facilities in Germany by 2011,” said Siemens’ Chief Human Resources Officer Siegfried Russwurm prior to the dedication of the Siemens Ki.Wis daycare center in Duisburg, Germany.
Turkmenistan intends to drive the expansion of its infrastructure with the help of Siemens technology. This decision was finalized today in Ashgabat, the country’s capital, by representatives of the Turkmen government and Siemens. “We’re very pleased to be collaborating with Turkmenistan in the technological field. We have the products and solutions that the country needs to meet its growing requirements in the areas of energy, clean drinking water, mobility and healthcare. Our ecofriendly technologies will enable us to drive the country’s long-term economic and social development,” said Siegfried Russwurm, who is responsible in Siemens’ Managing Board for the company’s business in Central Asia.