Oldendorff Centenary Book - Flipbook - Page 71
AND THE JOURNEY
CONTINUES...
We hope that you have enjoyed our little update for the 100-anniversary
book. Whilst we have mentioned quite a few stories, we all know there are
many more, and unfortunately, we were not able to mention more people by
name. To all you unsung heroes, I salute and thank you!
A fun fact for those who did not know is that the board of Oldendorff was
created in 2007 by the leading people in the company at the time. In the
preceding months, as the company rapidly evolved, both Henning and I were
caught with our pants down by the magnitude and complexity of what was
being developed under our watch.
The transformation of the company was just in its adolescence, and we needed
to grow up, have proper reporting and due diligence at the highest level of
the company. And this necessary step came from within, by the people of the
company, testimony to what the power of freedom and free speech can do if
given to the right people.
Whilst this may be the ultimate example of how employees can shape a
company, most of today’s structures and ideas at all levels have come from
the employees, helping the company to evolve into the organisation that it
is today. The trick will be to continue to develop the company in this way –
which starts by keeping to those principles that were sown as seeds many
years ago and not forgetting how we got here.
Our clients, the business and the world will continue to evolve over the years
to come. I have no doubt we will prevail as we have and will have the right
people to handle anything thrown at us. And how do I know this? Because
Henning will continue to trust us to do the right thing, and by now we are
hardwired to do our utmost to succeed. I am happy that we are able to reward
this trust through great performance and I do not see why this should change.
I want to thank Scott Jones, Peter Bagh and Henning for spending so much time
on this book for our enjoyment. I will finish off by quoting Henning’s normal sign
off that he has used for as long as I remember. I don’t know whether he has
been signing off like this consciously or subconsciously, but it basically is an
embodiment of all he believes in and actually wants for us too.
Life’s what you make it.
Peter Twiss
67
