Have you changed Wolters Kluwer into more of an American-style company?
I’ve encouraged informality and more open communication. I’ve moved more quickly than a European might have. It’s interesting that the word “aggressive” has a negative connotation in most European countries. Q: Have you adapted to the European culture or have your employees adapted to you? A: I’m more communicative and informal than my predecessor. It has taken time for people to adjust. We act with greater urgency and direction than in prior years. I’ve created a third culture, blending both styles and getting benefits from both. Q: It seems that U.S. companies are from Mars and European companies are from Venus. Do they operate on different planets? A: No, there’s a new kind of multiregional culture which combines the best of both worlds. Europe is not one market. Cultures vary from country to country, so the most important thing is to have local management on the ground that understands the markets. There are actually more similarities between the U.S., Germany and Holland than ther
