In the context of globalization and ever-changing geopolitics, how to find opportunities in challenges and how to drive development through innovation has become a problem that every business leader must face. Mr. William Yu, President of Honeywell China, believes that communication is becoming more and more important for international enterprises after the epidemic, and only by paying attention to daily communication can a solid bond of trust be formed inside and outside the enterprise.

IS210DSVOH1AA Recently, Mr. Yu Feng was invited to an interview with Linda Zhang, head of Heidrick & Struggles’ Shanghai office, to discuss Honeywell’s business development, talent development and leadership development in China.

Ye Zhang is Head of Heidrick & Struggles’ Shanghai Office and Head of the CEO and Board of Directors Business Unit in China, as well as a member of the Global Consumer and Industrial Business Unit, serving the recruitment needs of global multinationals and local companies for key executive positions in the China region.

The following text is compiled from an interview between Heidrick & Struggles and Mr. Yu Feng:

Global Vision and Local practice: Honeywell’s localization strategy

For multinational enterprises, the headquarters has a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the local market is the starting point for deep cultivation here. Mr. Yu Feng, President of Honeywell China, said that Honeywell headquarters attaches great importance to the importance of the Chinese market, and the China team is also deeply insight into the changes in the socio-economic environment and industry trends, and actively share these insights with key national policies and customer feedback to the headquarters to help the global headquarters better understand the Chinese market.

At present, China’s manufacturing industry is developing rapidly, and many local enterprises with market competitiveness have emerged in the industry. Honeywell welcomes healthy competition, which in part means constant progress and innovation. In addition, Mr. Yu stressed the importance of leveraging global technologies and combining local resources, rather than just transferring global technologies to local markets.

IS210DSVOH1AA Looking ahead, Honeywell will continue to deepen its local strategy. At present, Honeywell is increasing its investment in research and development in China, and already has nearly 2,000 R&D engineers. In addition, Honeywell has actively adapted to the characteristics of the Chinese market, launching products and services aimed at the mid-range mass market. In 2020, Honeywell established a regional headquarters in Wuhan, a move designed to better serve customers in the central and western regions, while also reflecting Honeywell’s long-term commitment to the Chinese market.

Talent training and leadership construction

In terms of talent development, Honeywell China has also shown foresight and innovation. Mr. Yu Feng attaches great importance to the cultivation and training of talents, and he believes that talent training is crucial to standardize the work of employees. In addition, Honeywell has launched a number of talent development programs, including programs to work with younger employees and a mentorship program for middle managers. These programs will go a long way toward helping employees upgrade their skills while also developing future leaders for the company.

In terms of leadership development, Mr. Yu stressed the importance of international experience. He encouraged Chinese executives to seize opportunities to work across borders to gain a broader perspective and greater experience. He believes that such cross-cultural work experiences are invaluable for personal and professional growth.

In the future, Honeywell will continue to adhere to its “East-for-East” development strategy, and help China’s manufacturing to transform into intelligent and green by continuously strengthening digital technology innovation and talent training.