GLTE is a new technology and business leadership consortium comprising Wilh. Wilhelmsen ASA, one of the world’s largest maritime services group, Pacific Gas and Electric Company of the US, and Det Norske Veritas (DNV), the international risk management foundation.
GLTE has been formed to help industrial groups share technology and innovation to enhance both their environmental and business performance.
Osvald Bjelland, chair of Xyntéo, says: “This collection of companies – focused on energy, transport and maritime services – plans to share enterprise solutions and breakthroughs that can benefit their companies and others as industry wrestles with the conflicting pressures of rising prices, intense competition and the demands of sustainable development.”
Ingar Skaug, group chief executive of Wilh. Wilhelmsen, has been named inaugural chair of GLTE, which will invite other leading industrial groups to participate.
“Our ambition with GLTE is to exchange leadership experience and technologies with those who can help us shape the maritime industry,” says Mr Skaug.
Technology and research shared by members of the Exchange could help improve energy costs, reduce emissions and transform logistics management.
“By prioritising innovation, we challenge today’s technology. We seek to find both more environment-friendly solutions and to improve the bottom line of our business,” says Mr Skaug. “This group of companies and top executives contains pragmatic and open-minded people who constantly ask themselves what they can do better.”
Henrik O Madsen, President and CEO of DNV, underlines the importance of openness and mutual trust in this exchange. “By sharing both breakthroughs and failures within technology and business development, the participating companies learn from each other. We all benefit from shared experiences,” says Madsen.
The Exchange recently held its inaugural meeting in New York focusing on the idea of collaborative commerce and the new rules of innovation, where participating companies exchanged best practice on areas from maritime fuel supplies to transport logistics.
Delegates at the inaugural workshop in New York received presentations and input from international corporations including BP, General Electric, Bayer, Deutsche Bank, Sunoco, IBM, Fortune, and Bloomberg.
Companies participating in the first meeting of the exchange have combined revenues of USD 680 billion and employ almost one million people.
The next meeting of GLTE will take place in Zurich in October.
For more information, contact:
Cecilie Stray, head of corporate communications, Wilh. Wilhelmsen ASA:
+ 47 67 58 41 60 (office) or +47 977 00 802 (mobile)
Osvald Bjelland, chair Xyntéo: +44 7968 183 157 (office)
Stephan Carlquist, CEO Xyntéo: +46 703 424 874 (office)
Tim Burt, Brunswick Group: +44 207 404 5959 (office)
Anders Fogel, Brunswick Group: +46 709 62 78 42 (office)
Information about the founding members:
Xyntéo is a leading advisor on creating organisational and leadership breakthroughs. Xyntéo's mission is to enable corporate enterprises, governmental and not-for-profit organisations achieve and sustain breakthroughs that enhance or transform performance. Xyntéo enables its clients to master their growth and change processes in order to create breakthrough performance rapidly. Xyntéo has a record of success with national and multinational organisations, such as IBM, General Motors, Ericsson, Areva, BT and Pacific Gas & Electric Company, amongst others. The privately-owned company also designs, produces, directs and organises the annual “Performance Theatre”, an international, invitation-only forum for business leaders, academics, artists and diplomats to share and capture insights on how global trends can affect organisational change and business innovation.
Wilh. Wilhelmsen ASA (WW) is the leading international provider of maritime services. WW is a Norwegian based company with strategic focus within three segments: Shipping, logistics and maritime services. Shipping: Together with the main partner Wallenius Lines in Sweden, the fleet comprises some 160 vessels including roll-on roll-off vessels and car carriers. Presently there are 42 new vessels on order. In addition WW operates supply/crew vessels as well as heavy lifters. Logistics: Door-to-door logistics services are delivered to the vehicle industry through a global network. Maritime services: Operating out of about 400 offices in 70 countries, products and services are delivered in 2 200 ports around the globe. Main products and services: Barwil Unitor Ships Service – services to ships in port - improving vessels efficiency, Ship Management – management of vessels and supply of crew, Ships Equipment – products and equipment to vessels in shipyards.
Pacific Gas & Electric Corporation is an energy-based holding company that conducts its business through Pacific Gas and Electric Company (the Utility), a public utility operating in northern and central California. The Utility engages primarily in the businesses of electricity and natural gas distribution, electricity generation, procurement and transmission, and natural gas procurement, transportation and storage. The Utility served approximately five million electricity distribution customers and approximately 4.2 million natural gas distribution customers at December 31, 2005.
Det Norske Veritas (DNV) is an independent foundation with the objective of safeguarding life, property, and the environment and is a leading international provider of services for managing risk in industries such as transport and shipping. DNV is an international company with about 300 offices in 100 different countries. Headquartered in Oslo (Høvik), Norway, DNVs global network is linked by efficient information technology enabling us to create value for our customers in a coherent and consistent manner worldwide.