TUI - LAST SUNDAY, DR. ZETSCHE PAID TRIBUTE TO OUTGOING CEO FRITZ JOUSSEN AND INTRODUCED HIS SUCCESSOR
Dear colleagues,
And above all: dear guests,
I am delighted that so many of you have accepted our invitation this evening and welcome you very warmly - personally and on behalf of the entire Supervisory Board.
First of all, my thanks to Wybcke Meier, the entire
But I would also like to extend a very warm welcome to my predecessor in the office of Chairman of the Supervisory Board, welcome dear
This ship is the first new ship that
So the venue is particularly fitting for the changeover on the TUI bridge.
Tonight we are saying goodbye to
The cruise segment is a good symbol of how much TUI has changed under
The cruise segment's contribution to revenue and profit has also grown steadily until Corona.
Within ten years, TUI has tapped into a segment with enormous growth potential - and has become one of the leading cruise providers in
The same was achieved with the
Both areas are part of the profitable transformation that has succeeded under his leadership. And this in close cooperation with
Where the change is probably most visible is in the digitalisation of the Group. Here, Fritz, you have set clear accents and massively driven the change. 'Leadership is about people and about change' - that is your premise. And you follow this path unwaveringly with the team when you are convinced of a topic. This also applied to the digitization of TUI. For example, TUI Musement was created in just a few years as one of the world's leading digital platforms for activities and excursions. The digitization of a far-flung group is and remains a mammoth task - and it will remain at the top of TUI's agenda in the future as Sebastian now takes the helm.
Ladies and gentlemen, in 2013, many observers had not thought it would be possible that TUI could transform itself so successfully. When you took over, Fritz, TUI was considered by many to be a candidate for failure. 'Reverse take-over' was one command. Investors and the public jumped on the opinion of spin doctors who came around the corner with it.
After the successful takeover of the
Then came the pandemic of the century, turning TUI into a company without a business overnight. The pandemic turned all of our lives upside down in very many areas. But hardly any other industry was affected as severely as tourism.
Our sector thrives on people coming together, crossing borders, discovering new things and expanding their horizons. So when 'stay at home' suddenly became the top priority, tourism had a problem - a pretty serious one. Stagnation, through no fault of its own - due to the virus and government regulation. It was threatening and put existence in question.
TUI, the healthy global market leader, had suddenly become a company that could not have survived without government support.
Two outstanding qualities - I believe - helped in particular:
Fritz is an optimist. Not by pretense, but by conviction. Even when all the TUI planes were grounded, the ships were doged in the harbor, and all our hotels had their doors closed, he had a positive vision - not only for the sector, but also for the Group and especially the employees.
And he can inspire people with ideas and take them with him. For all employees, the time of the pandemic was an absolutely exceptional situation, which was naturally also determined by personal fears and doubts. What do they tell their family, friends, customers and business partners? I know from many conversations how important it was to have a clear view of the future: communicating goals, forming strong teams, delegating responsibility and then taking everyone along with you - that's what strong leadership is all about.
This does not mean glossing over things. It means a clear course out of the crisis, focus, and an ambitious but realistic vision for getting back on the road to success. Comprehensive and openly communicated.
Just like the Corona rescue, the merger and the successful transformation will remain permanently associated with you. A fully integrated global market leader was created from a management holding company. That remains your achievement.
We wish you and you, dear
As of
From day one, he can therefore work at full speed to lead TUI back to its old successes. The existential crisis is over and TUI is saved. Dealing with the aftermath of the pandemic is not yet complete.
All the best for your new task and only the best of success! The company deserves it. And I know you are burning for TUI and for this task. You want to shape things. Now is your time, with your team.
I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome our future CFO
Before we give the floor straight away to
From my side, dear guests, once again a very warm welcome. I look forward to a pleasant and relaxed evening with you!
Thank you very much - and I would now like to hand over to
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