Looking Ahead

Success in a consolidated group

Neil Burns, managing director for the release-liner segment of Mondi Coating & Release, opened proceedings in the marketing forum, with a manufacturer’s viewpoint of an industry where, he said, “if you talk to a buyer, don’t be surprised if price is top on the list of topics.” Explaining the corporate Mondi approach, he showed how the company’s acquisition trail in recent years has created both internal challenges and opportunities at all levels. In what is now a highly diversified group culture, Mondi underlines, in a converting business, the importance and value of maintaining decentralized management. He summarized some of the questions companies need to ask themselves before defining their future actions—all of which are underpinned by the key statement, “No product development, no future.”