Siemens CEO Heinrich von Pierer on cross-border acquisitions

Executive Overview Dr. Heinrich von Pierer has been the president and chief executive officer of Siemens Corporation since 1992. Over its 150-year history, this German company has been a world leader in electrical engineering and electronics. Employing the networked know-how of its more than 480,000 employees in over 190 countries, it is working towards its goal of becoming a global network of innovation. Roughly 60,000 employees are engaged in research and development worldwide, and R&D investments in fiscal 2001 amounted to 6.8 billion euros ($6 billion). The company's $70 billion in sales and over $80 billion in assets are spread among a wide range of businesses making products ranging from light bulbs to power stations. The main business groups are Information and Communications, Automation and Control, Power Generation, Transportation, and Medical Products. Today, two key interrelated elements in Siemens' corporate strategy are e-business and an increasingly stronger presence in the U.S. market. The ...