Carlos Freymann

"There are plenty of opportunities for excellent professional development at Continental"

How long have you worked at Continental?
Since November 2007

How did you come to join the company? Where did you work before?
I joined the company when it took over Siemens VDO. I had been employed in various positions at Siemens for just under 20 years before it was purchased by Continental. I started in human resources development in Brazil and relocated to Germany just under two years later. After that, I worked in Telecommunications at Siemens for five years. I then worked in Electromechanical Components for two years. At the end of 1999 I moved to Siemens Automotive and was responsible for global human resources management in the Body Electronics division. In 2001 I took over as Head of Human Resources of the newly established company Siemens VDO for the Interior and Infotainment division. Essentially, this is the position I still hold today, even after the Continental takeover.

What is a typical work day like for you? Is there such a thing?
A typical work day is difficult to define. I am responsible for a lot of things that are constantly changing. At the moment, the effects of the global financial crisis are the focus of my day-to-day work.

Why should prospective employees choose Continental?
Continental is a key player in the attractive automotive industry and one that, thanks to its international focus and wide range of products, offers plenty of opportunities for personal development. The decentralized structure requires all employees to take on a high degree of personal responsibility.

What skills and knowledge are required for a career at Continental?
Generally speaking, at Continental it is important to be able to react flexibly to change. People who actively drive things forward will certainly be welcomed here. As an internationally active corporation, we rely on our employees to be cosmopolitan and promote internationality. Creativity and innovative thinking are also important.

How do you rate the career opportunities at Continental?
The human resources development system is very good and offers individuals excellent career opportunities. The human resources development process, which takes place annually, helps our employees to recognize their individual strengths and to make the most of their potential.

How important is teamwork for you?
I think it is very important to employ staff who are experts in their respective fields. But I also recognize that no one can know everything, which is why we try to make the best decisions for the company through teamwork.

Describe your management style for us, please.
I adopt an integrative management style, the aim of which is to facilitate rapid decision-making.

How do you strike a balance between work, free time and family?
This balance really can be very hard to achieve. I always try to make enough time for my family.

How do you spend your free time?
As I said, my family is one of the most important things in my life. We spend time traveling, reading and hiking.

How do you envision your professional future?
I always want to progress further and so I still don't consider myself to have reached the pinnacle of my career.