
Can NIO reinvent the automotive industry, Mark Zhou?
Chinese auto startup NIO went from zero to nearly a million customers in under ten years. Mark Zhou, who leads product and R&D, discusses how; and explains why community – not hardware...
October 28, 2021 in CEO Dialogue podcast series • Podcast available
Gilbert Achermann, Chairman of dental juggernaut Straumann, gives insights into the changing leadership demands of the boardroom...
Apple Google SpotifyAs the Chairman of Straumann Group, IMD EMBA graduate Gilbert Acherman knows the essential value of strong corporate leadership.
Having joined the global dentistry powerhouse in 1998, he served first as CFO and then as CEO before joining the board in 2009 and becoming chairman a year later. Now with more than a decade under his belt in this position, Achermann is one of a select few people to maintain such a longstanding record. The average length of chairmanship in any industry is typically four-and-a-half years.Â
This week, he tells IMD President Jean-François Manzoni how he’s kept his edge. Highlights of their conversation include tips on being an effective board member, how the ’08 financial crash helped him navigate the coronavirus pandemic, and why Swiss companies are so well placed to take on international markets.
Credits:
Host: IMD President Jean-François ManzoniÂ
Guest: Gilbert Achermann
Produced by JohnJo Devlin

February 24, 2026 • by David Bach in Podcasts
Chinese auto startup NIO went from zero to nearly a million customers in under ten years. Mark Zhou, who leads product and R&D, discusses how; and explains why community – not hardware...

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