SINGAPORE, SEPTEMBER 2018. A Unilever internal venturing effort, UI was started in Singapore by Unilever veterans to substitute the rather inefficient operating companies’ (OpCos) export units with a dedicated group focused on exploiting the group’s “white spaces” – non-core brands, consumer segments (such as diasporas and religious sub-groups), new channels (such as airports and cruises) and geographies – not big enough to merit attention from the Unilever OpCos. The group proved quickly its value proposition, doubling the turnover it inherited in less than four years, with higher margins and growth rates than the mother company. By 2016, Aseem was entrusted with organizing the marketing function, setting up a 15-person team based at HQ. The team managed 10,000+ brand/country cells remotely and had to rely heavily on digital marketing, using 3rd party resources, including open talent platforms, to gain leverage, cut costs and grow faster. It conducted 250 launches in the previous 18 months, while reducing advertising and promotion costs by 20%. Now Aseem had to take digital marketing to the next level. Should he increase spending limits per brand/country?
Digital marketing at Unilever International
Summary
SINGAPORE, SEPTEMBER 2018. A Unilever internal venturing effort, UI was started in Singapore by Unilever veterans to substitute the rather ineffici...
Reference
IMD-7-2037
Copyright
©2018
Copyright owner
IMD Copyright
Organization
Unilever
Industry
Consumer Goods
Available Languages
English
Contact
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Unilever International 3.0: Scaling the white spaces venturing effort
Summary
By 2020, Umesh Shah could rightly be proud of what he and his team had accomplished over the last eight years to capture white space consumers, i.e...
Reference
IMD-7-2171
Copyright
©2020
Copyright owner
IMD Copyright
Organization
Unilever
Industry
Consumer Goods
Available Languages
English
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Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Unilever: Opportunities in the white spaces
Summary
May 2016, Singapore. Umesh Shah, the head of Unilever International (UI), was pleased with what his team had been able to achieve since the busines...
Reference
IMD-7-1804
Copyright
©2016
Copyright owner
IMD Copyright
Organization
Unilever
Industry
Consumer Goods
Available Languages
English
Contact
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Here’s what we predicted for 2024… how did we do?
Did our predictions for 2024 come true, a turbulent election year, bitcoin and CBDC, COP29 and electric cars, China, EU integration and Euro football
By
Robert Hooijberg, Arturo Bris, David Bach, José Parra Moyano, Michael R. Wade, Julia Binder, Howard H. Yu, Simon J. Evenett, Alyson Meister, Salvatore Cantale and
Stefan Michel
Why investors often overlook the next big thing - Venture Capital
Bold and unproven ideas may struggle to attract early investment, but that doesn't mean they are doomed to fail.
By
Raphaël Jean Luigi Grieco
14 December 2024
Here’s what we predicted for 2024… how did we do?
Summary
Did our predictions for 2024 come true, a turbulent election year, bitcoin and CBDC, COP29 and electric cars, China, EU integration and Euro football
Contact
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
The strategic imperative
Summary
In a world where change is the only constant, the strategic imperative for sustainability is not just a theoretical construct – it’s a call to action. This section of the book delves into the core strategies that will enable businesses to thrive i...
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Framing the conversation
Summary
In late 2020, as the world began to emerge from the worst
of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wärtsilä, a Finnish corporation
specializing in power systems, made a bold decision.
Despite being a well-established company with a strong
track record in...
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Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Why investors often overlook the next big thing - Venture Capital
Summary
Bold and unproven ideas may struggle to attract early investment, but that doesn't mean they are doomed to fail.
Contact
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
IG4 Capital: Private equity with a purpose
Summary
SEPTEMBER 2023, SÃO PAULO (BRAZIL). Gustavo Buffara was painstakingly putting the finishing touches on the IG4 Private Equity Fund III presentation. Co-founded by Gustavo in 2016, IG4 Capital had grown to become a leading force in private equity in Latin America with a unique value proposition that focused on private equity special situations. With 52 professionals worldwide across seven offices (in São Paulo, London, Lima, Madrid, Bogotá, Washington, DC and Santiago), the firm was now heading to manage some $1.7 billion, with more than $1.1 billion invested in special situations over recent years. What made Gustavo particularly proud was the fact that the firm was able to operate not only under the highest sustainability standards, as an early signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), but also as a fully certified B Corp, a first in emerging market private equity. IG4’s portfolio companies now generated more than $2 billion of turnover with around 20,000 employees in different countries across Latin America, and many of them had achieved or were on their way to their own B Corp certifications. Could a Cerberus-inspired special situations strategy, often perceived as brutal, be adapted to a more culturally sensitive, developing-market equivalent, with clearer environmental, social and governance (ESG) integration? In other words, could “vulture capital” be turned into “culture capital”? The value proposition resonated with investors, and the track record of IG4 Funds I and II were now solid pillars upon which to build. But what else could the company do to ensure that its private equity investments in different segments, with a deep ESG toolbox, would help establish sustainable capitalism in the Latin American region? What else should it consider doing to reaffirm its ESG credentials even further?
Reference
IMD-7-2545
Copyright
©2024
Copyright owner
IMD Copyright
Organization
IG4 Capital Partners
Industry
Finance and Insurance, Private Equity
Available Languages
English
Contact
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
NTT at a crossroads (A): Quest for growth
Summary
NTT Corporation, Japan’s information and communication technologies (ICT) leader since 1953, was the first to commercialize internet usage on mobile phones in the 1990s, which resulted in NTT achieving much success in Japan. However, by the end of the 2000s, Japan faced challenges with an aging population and a stagnant economy. Recognizing disruption in the ICT sector, CEO Satoshi Miura understood the need for the dominant players in the ICT industry to integrate emerging business domains beyond their existing frameworks. To secure leading global positions in ICT and the new paradigm of cloud computing, Miura needed to make strategic choices to revive growth. Case A provides information on NTT, its rivals, the global market and cloud computing disruptions. The case ends with NTT’s CEO exploring strategic growth options to prepare NTT for the future.
Reference
IMD-7-2351
Copyright
©2024
Copyright owner
IMD Copyright
Organization
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone
Industry
Services, Telecommunications;Information Technology
Available Languages
English
Contact
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
NTT at a crossroads (B): Mapping growth options
Summary
Building on NTT (A), the case starts with NTT’s CEO having narrowed down strategic growth options with the board to prepare NTT for the future. Past international investments in AT&T Wireless and KPN to tap into foreign markets had resulted in billion $ write offs and stopped international acquisitions. However, after reviewing the disruptive changes facing the ICT industry and considering the shareholders’ views, CEO Miura committed to internationalization. The B case details NTT’s growth strategy focused on internationalization, while considering the need for new capabilities and technologies. It provides more insights into NTT, its opportunities and the Japanese experience with M&As and ends with Miura’s determination to quickly grow through international expansion to prepare NTT for the future.
Reference
IMD-7-2352
Copyright
©2024
Copyright owner
IMD Copyright
Organization
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone
Industry
Services, Telecommunications;Information Technology
Available Languages
English
Contact
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Overcoming adversity through innovation – Daikin at 100 (A): Leadership lessons
Summary
This case study examines the remarkable evolution of Daikin Industries, a company that demonstrated resilience and innovation over nearly a century. Founded in 1924 by Akira Yamada in Osaka, Japan, Daikin originally focused on manufacturing aircraft components. However, the company pivoted towards refrigeration technology in response to emerging market demands, notably during Japan’s post-World War II economic boom. By leveraging R&D in fluorocarbons and innovative cooling technologies, Daikin established itself as a leader in the air conditioning sector. The case highlights key leadership eras, notably the transformative periods under Noriyuki Inoue. Under Inoue’s stewardship, the company emphasized execution capabilities, prioritizing operational excellence alongside technological advancement. His leadership drove Daikin’s globalization strategy, enabling the company to become the second-largest fluorocarbon producer globally and the foremost player in the air conditioning market. As Daikin approaches its 100th anniversary, it faces contemporary challenges such as climate change and increasing consumer demands for energy-efficient products. The company’s commitment to innovation remains pivotal as it seeks to balance profitability with environmental responsibility. This case prompts discussion on Daikin’s strategic responses to evolving market conditions and the importance of leadership in sustaining growth.
Reference
IMD-7-2618
Copyright
©2024
Copyright owner
IMD Copyright
Organization
Daikin Industries
Industry
Consumer Goods, Home Appliances
Available Languages
English
Contact
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Overcoming adversity through innovation – Daikin at 100 (B): Sustainability lessons
Summary
This case study examines the remarkable evolution of Daikin Industries, a company that demonstrated resilience and innovation over nearly a century. Founded in 1924 by Akira Yamada in Osaka, Japan, Daikin originally focused on manufacturing aircraft components. However, the company pivoted towards refrigeration technology in response to emerging market demands, notably during Japan’s post-World War II economic boom. By leveraging R&D in fluorocarbons and innovative cooling technologies, Daikin established itself as a leader in the air conditioning sector. The case highlights key leadership eras, notably the transformative periods under Noriyuki Inoue. Under Inoue’s stewardship, the company emphasized execution capabilities, prioritizing operational excellence alongside technological advancement. His leadership drove Daikin’s globalization strategy, enabling the company to become the second-largest fluorocarbon producer globally and the foremost player in the air conditioning market. As Daikin approaches its 100th anniversary, it faces contemporary challenges such as climate change and increasing consumer demands for energy-efficient products. The company’s commitment to innovation remains pivotal as it seeks to balance profitability with environmental responsibility. This case prompts discussion on Daikin’s strategic responses to evolving market conditions and the importance of leadership in sustaining growth.
Reference
IMD-7-2619
Copyright
©2024
Copyright owner
IMD Copyright
Organization
Daikin Industries
Industry
Consumer Goods, Home Appliances
Available Languages
English
Contact
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Overcoming adversity through innovation – Daikin at 100 (C): China market lessons
Summary
Daikin’s success in the Chinese air conditioning market serves as a compelling case study in strategic adaptation and collaboration. Following its entry into the market in the 1990s, Daikin faced formidable competition from well-established domestic brands like Gree and Midea. Despite the initial challenges of breaking through in a fragmented and competitive landscape, Daikin’s innovative inverter technology became a distinguishing feature of its product offerings. The watershed moment in Daikin’s trajectory occurred in 2008 when it formed a strategic partnership with Gree, China’s largest air conditioner manufacturer. This collaboration enabled Daikin to tap into Gree’s expansive distribution network and manufacturing expertise, significantly enhancing its own market reach. The partnership proved mutually beneficial; Gree capitalized on Daikin’s advanced inverter technology while Daikin secured a foothold in a market driven by increasing consumer demand for energy-efficient solutions. By 2012, inverter air conditioners claimed over 60% of the Chinese market share, a figure that surged to over 90% by 2024, illustrating the success of their joint efforts. Furthermore, Daikin’s commitment to sustainability was manifested in its pioneering use of HFC-32 refrigerant, known for its low global warming potential. By openly licensing HFC-32 patents globally, Daikin not only positioned itself as an environmental leader but also fostered industry-wide innovation. This case highlights the critical importance of strategic partnerships and innovation in overcoming competitive challenges and underscores Daikin’s role as a transformative force in the global air conditioning market.
Reference
IMD-7-2620
Copyright
©2024
Copyright owner
IMD Copyright
Organization
Daikin Industries
Industry
Consumer Goods, Home Appliances
Available Languages
English
Contact
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications