People on the move: Michele Marchesan

Throughout a variety of moves and positions, people focus has been the common thread in Michele Marchesan’s Electrolux career.

After 10 years in various HR roles in Italy and Belgium, Michele Marchesan changed functions to become Plant Manager in Porcia, Italy, in 2006. Marchesan has most recently made another cross-functional move – this time back to HR based in Stockholm.

You have spent most of your career at Electrolux in HR, including positions in Italy and Belgium as HR Officer, Manager and Director. What do you enjoy most about this field and how have you seen yourself develop professionally in it?

I like dealing with people on both a personal and professional level. I especially enjoy helping support people do their best for the success of Electrolux.

Over the years, I have gone gradually from very local roles to those with international exposure – first in Europe and now globally. For me, this has been a very exciting journey towards a deeper understanding of cultural differences in people and business.

What was the biggest change for you when you went from HR manager to Plant Manager?

I went from a position where my main task was to support others in doing their job to one where I had sole responsibility for the final results of an entire operational unit. I had to transition from having medium-term targets and objectives to bringing in daily, and even hourly, results.

How do you feel your previous jobs have prepared you for your current role as SVP HR for Electrolux Global Operations and what are you excited about going forward?

My past positions have helped me focus on people issues. With the help of my different kinds of experience, I believe I am in a place now where I can act on what I believe leadership to really be: bringing others to perform in the right way even if you are not an expert in what they do.

I think I’m most excited about the global dimension and the big challenges that are related to my job. We are doing something that has never been done before – creating a truly global organization.

You have lived in different countries throughout your career (Italy and Belgium) and are now adding Sweden to the list. What are you looking forward to most both personally and professionally?

On the whole, I look forward to new challenges, new people, new successes and a completely new environment. In a strictly professional sense? To be exposed to a real global cultural environment for the first time. Personally, it will be nice to have my family with me to share the experience of living in a new country.