Case Study

LOGSTOR’s rebirth: Leading through crisis

16 pages
February 2022
Reference: IMD-7-2291

LOGSTOR is a Danish company that is a global supplier of pre-insulated pipe systems. This case focuses on the leadership of Kim Christensen, a former board member who became CEO in 2017. The company was in the throes of a major crisis: it had shifted its focus away from its core business, and bankruptcy loomed. Kim’s mandate was to turn LOGSTOR around, bring it back from the brink and restore performance and growth. As an “inside-outsider” CEO, Kim had to focus on the financial, strategic and operational aspects of the turnaround, implementing an initiative known as “back to black.” The case describes some of the key actions that Kim took during this period and the drivers of the changes he made, particularly with respect to company culture and getting employees and managers involved in the turnaround process. After two years, the company was solvent. Kim was gearing up to move LOGSTOR into a phase of profitable growth when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. The case explores some of Kim’s initial actions. The pandemic-related crisis was very different from the company’s previous crisis. The case closes in June 2020 and asks what type of leadership Kim will need to bring to address this crisis. During the case discussion, students will examine leadership, change management and organizational design issues.

Learning Objective
  • Analyze leadership characteristics and traits required in times of crisis and the sustainability of a successful leadership style as a company enters different types of crises
  • Evaluate possible organizational changes required to ensure the survival of a company in crisis
  • Consider the criteria for selecting a CEO to manage through a crisis
Keywords
Crisis Management, Chief Executive Officer, Turnaround
Settings
Europe, Denmark
Logstor, Energy
2017 - 2020
Type
Field Research
Copyright
© 2022
Available Languages
English
Related material
Teaching note
Case clearing houses
IMD case studies are distributed through case clearing houses. In order to browse the collection and purchase copies please visit the links below.

The Case Centre

Cranfield University

Wharley End Beds MK43 0JR, UK
Tel +44 (0)1234 750903
Email [email protected]

Harvard Business School Publishing

60 Harvard Way, Boston MA 02163, USA
Tel (800) 545-7685 Tel (617)-783-7600
Fax (617) 783-7666
Email [email protected]

Asia Pacific Case Center

NUCB Business School

1-3-1 Nishiki Naka
Nagoya Aichi, Japan 460-0003
Tel +81 52 20 38 111
Email [email protected]

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Looking for something specific?
IMD's faculty and research teams publish articles, case studies, books and reports on a wide range of topics