Andreas “Andy” Mattes is in his second day as president and chief executive officer of Diebold Inc. and says there are four areas the $3 billion global company needs to focus on.
Those areas are cost structure, returning to a trajectory of growth, improving profits and making sure the right people are in the right positions.
Mattes, 52, a former Hewlett-Packard and Siemens executive, met with local media this morning at Diebold’s Green headquarters.
The German-born Mattes said he’s excited by the opportunities that he sees at Diebold.
“I’m very direct. It’s part of my German DNA,” he said. “I like to get things done.”
Mattes succeeds Thomas Swidarski, who was let go in January after Diebold missed earnings targets; the board also said Diebold was not transforming itself fast enough. Diebold, which makes automated teller machines and security systems, has been working to emphasize software and service over its hardware.
“I’m going to focus on making sure we have a very open and honest assessment of where we are,” Mattes said. And there will be a focus on where the company needs to go, he said.
“It’s not one man’s job. It’s for the team to do,” he said.
“I believe we have more assets than people generally give us credit for,” he said. “I believe the company has a lot of upside.”
He expects to spend much of the next 90 to 120 days traveling and meeting Diebold employees and customers.
Mattes, who has been living in California, said he anticipates his wife and children will be relocating soon to Northeast Ohio. He has children ages 2, 5, 6, 16 and 20.
“For me, it’s important to be with my family,” he said. Mattes said he and his wife are avid skiers and just introduced their children to the sport last year.
Mattes said he started his career selling Apple computers.
“I like gadgets,” he said. His latest acquisition is a new Blackberry smartphone.
Jim Mackinnon can be reached at 330-996-3544 or jmackinnon@thebeaconjournal.com.