Wednesday 2022-07-06

What does your work contribute to FORVIA?

As a global digital transformation unit, we want to help increase FORVIA's competitiveness. Together with our colleagues in the business groups, regions and functions, we want to make FORVIA stronger and faster with digital innovations and technologies. In doing so, we build on the experience of both companies: What is going on where, what is going well, what can we do better? We are also one of the first functions with an international management team from both companies. This is an important step in the merging of HELLA and Faurecia into FORVIA.

Why ‘Digital Transformation’?

In my view, digital transformation is critical to success. It will be increasingly important to differentiate from competitors through digital solutions and to coordinate and cooperate excellently within FORVIA for this purpose. To do this, we need bridges between the business groups, regions and functions as well as the individual sites, supported by the central digitalization team. As a digital department, we don't want to sit in an "ivory tower," but rather work together with the teams in the business to see what actually can be improved through digital transformation.

What have you been able to learn from Faurecia so far?

Many things. Above all, I am impressed by the fact that Faurecia was prepared to set ambitious goals in the area of digitalization, which sometimes require significant upfront investments and are also associated with greater implementation risks. One example: Faurecia has entered into a very extensive partnership with Palantir, a company specializing in technological solutions for analyzing big data. The investments made for this purpose are a strong sign and HELLA will also be able to benefit from the established know-how.

Which three attributes would you use to describe FORVIA?

Innovative, international and entrepreneurial. First, with regard to our portfolio, we are already future-oriented and innovative, especially compared with many competitors. Second, we are international. We have a lot of experience when it comes to global collaboration. This was also demonstrated in Project ONE during the integration of Faurecia and HELLA from Day 1. Third, we act in an entrepreneurial manner. Entrepreneurial responsibility has always been a core corporate value at HELLA - and I can see the same at Faurecia. I like to use the following image to describe this: Often there are many balls flying through the air - the balls here represent business ideas or opportunities for improvement. HELLA and Faurecia employees excel at grabbing these balls and start "running" with them. They make things work on their own responsibility.

What was your personal best FORVIA moment?

Having been involved in the integration process as Chief Integration Officer on the HELLA side for a few months, 'Day One' on February 7, 2022 was a very special day for me; especially when FORVIA was officially launched for the first time. We worked intensively towards this Day 1 with over 500 project participants in more than 20 workstreams.

The entire FORVIA group listens to you for a few seconds: What do you say?

I would say: “The closing of ranks between Faurecia and HELLA is a huge opportunity: Two companies are coming together here that complement each other perfectly and are in a strong position. Yes, we are in a very difficult, volatile market and yes, we are experiencing a time of crisis. But this should not cause us to lose sight of the fact that FORVIA in particular is creating something special: namely the seventh-largest automotive supplier in the world, with a low dependence on the classic combustion engine and with many innovative technologies that are in high demand. We are 150,000 colleagues from all parts of this world who want to change mobility together and make it more sustainable. This is fascinating and I am sure that together we will achieve a lot.” Sometimes, from my point of view, we do not manage to sufficiently convey this confidence and trust in our common future as FORVIA. That's why I like to take this opportunity.

How do you convince someone to work for FORVIA?

FORVIA has a promising and strong position in an exciting industry. We are innovative, international and entrepreneurial. FORVIA has a decent impact due to its size and positioning. Already today, one in two cars is already equipped with a FORVIA solution. If you want to make a career, develop yourself, see a lot and bring technologies for innovative mobility experiences to the road with great people, you should come to us. Of course, the best area is Digital Transformation, that goes without saying (laughs).

What do you expect from FORVIA?

I see great potential for profitable growth for FORVIA and we should do everything we can to realize the most promising opportunities from it. I also expect that we as FORVIA will continue to grow together step by step. We have already achieved a lot, but I would like to see us work together even more across both houses. There are certainly even more possibilities than those we are already realising now.

You have different offices: one in Nanterre/Paris and one in Lippstadt. Where and how do you prefer to work?

I like to work directly with people. I missed that during the Corona period, and I enjoy finally spending time in the office with colleagues again. But my impression is also that we are working together in a much closer and familiar manner especially in the international network, not least due to the virtual collaboration during the Corona period. Because in the virtual world there is no difference whether you are sitting in the headquarters or somewhere else: the tiles in Teams are all the same size. Like many others, I therefore continue to work in a hybrid manner: usually I am in Nanterre/Paris for two to four days, the rest of the time in Lippstadt, on a business trip or working remotely. My family and I still live near Lippstadt. My team and I want to help make such working models possible through digital transformation.

What information about you can't be found on your CV?

My passion for baseball: I like to watch MLB games until late into the night, preferably with the New York Mets. And of course, I'd prefer even more to be on the scene during the regular season at Citi Field in Queens or in Port St. Lucie during Spring Training.

FORVIA Faces - Connect with Dr. Christopher Mokwa

Would you like to learn more and talk to Dr. Christopher Mokwa in person? On Monday, July 11, 2022, he will answer your questions in a Teams Call from 9 to 9:30 a.m. (CET). Register for the FORVIA Faces Talk here.

Watch Dr. Christopher Mokwa's personal video message:

About Christopher Mokwa:
Dr. Christopher Mokwa has been Executive Vice President Digital Transformation for FORVIA since June 1, 2022. In this role he is a member of Faurecia's Executive Committee. Previously, he headed the Strategy and M&A department at HELLA and was Chief Digital Officer. At the same time, he accompanied the integration process of Project ONE as Chief Integration Officer on the HELLA side.

About FORVIA Faces:
150,000 employees worldwide work on FORVIA's success. In the portrait series "FORVIA Faces" they, among other things, speak about their role at FORVIA, what FORVIA means for them and what they expect from FORVIA.