EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
Newsweek US|April 12, 2024
VOLVO CARS CEO JIM ROWAN ISN'T SHYING away from an auto industry that is in the midst of great change. In fact, he's embracing the disruption.
EILEEN FALKENBERG-HULL, JAKE LINGEMAN
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

But even he will admit, he's only halfway to where he wants to be on two key fronts: electrification and customer engagement.

"The industry is in transition. And, of course, so is technology... We're halfway through, in our case, the journey toward full electrification, where most of that technology will be harnessed in meaningful ways. And we're probably about halfway through the full customer engagement journey as well," Rowan told Newsweek.

As CEO, he has set about revolutionizing the Volvo brand, but he stresses that it has had to happen naturally. That does not mean it will be easy.

"We don't try and put in sustainability or technology for the sake of technology or sustainability," Rowan said. "It's baked in, from the very essence of how that affects the customer, how that benefits the customer, and how that benefits society is all of that comes together very early on at the design stage."

"You've really got to force that. You've got to force to make sure that you get that thinking, that you get that collaboration, that you get that cohesiveness right at the very start of the project," he said.

Those decisions are costing the company money, Rowan told Newsweek last year. "As for the material choices that we're making ... recycled aluminum, recycled steel, recycled plastics, often they're costing us more money. So, it's not cost saving, but we're doing it for the right reasons."

Denne historien er fra April 12, 2024-utgaven av Newsweek US.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra April 12, 2024-utgaven av Newsweek US.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA NEWSWEEK USSe alt
Mystery of Ginger Cat Is out of the Bag
Newsweek US

Mystery of Ginger Cat Is out of the Bag

The genetics behind the vibrant orange color in feline coats is finally confirmed after 112 years

time-read
3 mins  |
January 03-17, 2025 (Double Issue)
Paris Hilton & Nicole Richie
Newsweek US

Paris Hilton & Nicole Richie

PARIS HILTON AND NICOLE RICHIE ARE READY TO BRING A LITTLE “SANASA” to the world with Peacock's Paris & Nicole: The Encore, their first project together since their reality show The Simple Life ended in 2007. What's “sanasa”? It's a song and phrase the longtime friends created as kids and popularized on The Simple Life. The show, a cultural phenomenon in the early days of reality TV, followed them over a series of blue-collar jobs. Now they're bringing it back as an opera. “I know this is just going to make people laugh, have fun, be nostalgic and just celebrate our friendship,” Hilton said. While Richie acknowledged “you can't do Simple Life again,” she said now “felt like the right time.” The famous pair also revisit some old jobs in Arkansas, like fast-food chain Sonic, where they now have drinks named for them. “I think that there is a part of our friend- ship that the show ended up showing that people connect to,” Richie said. As for this new special, Hilton is glad to do something positive for their fans. “It's been such a crazy past couple years, and I just feel like the world needs more joy.”

time-read
2 mins  |
January 03-17, 2025 (Double Issue)
What Next for Your Drugstore?
Newsweek US

What Next for Your Drugstore?

Walgreens and Amazon are placing opposing bets on the future of retail pharmacy

time-read
6 mins  |
January 03-17, 2025 (Double Issue)
AMERICA'S GREATEST WORKPLACES for Diversity
Newsweek US

AMERICA'S GREATEST WORKPLACES for Diversity

AS COMPANIES IN THE UNITED STATES CONTINUE TO navigate the evolving dynamics of the workplace, diversity remains a cornerstone of organizational success and social responsibility.

time-read
4 mins  |
January 03-17, 2025 (Double Issue)
FIGHTING SPIRITS
Newsweek US

FIGHTING SPIRITS

ANDREA MCCARTHY TOLD FRIENDS and family when she gave up alcohol on January 1, 2024, that she would toast 12 months off the sauce with a drink to ring in 2025. As that anniversary approached, the Los Angeles-born content creator told Newsweek she had had a change of heart.

time-read
10 mins  |
January 03-17, 2025 (Double Issue)
Lessons Over Lunch
Newsweek US

Lessons Over Lunch

Ninety-year-old volunteer Hugh showed me how the winter years can be full of purpose

time-read
3 mins  |
January 03-17, 2025 (Double Issue)
Is California's Green Dream Hot Air?
Newsweek US

Is California's Green Dream Hot Air?

The state aims to rely on zero-carbon energy sources in two decades' time but has hurdles to overcome along the way

time-read
8 mins  |
January 03-17, 2025 (Double Issue)
Power Struggle
Newsweek US

Power Struggle

As the dust settles following the toppling of Bashar al-Assad, new front lines could be drawn in Syria's old civil war

time-read
6 mins  |
January 03-17, 2025 (Double Issue)
Downsizing Goes Bust for Boomers
Newsweek US

Downsizing Goes Bust for Boomers

Rising property costs are not just affecting young Americans—older people are ‘aging in place’ due to a dearth of affordable accessible housing

time-read
4 mins  |
January 03-17, 2025 (Double Issue)
Ray Romano
Newsweek US

Ray Romano

\"I read about three scripts, and at the end of each there was a little twist, a little turn, [and] it was funny.\"

time-read
2 mins  |
December 27, 2024