/ 27 January 2005

A word of advice … know your boss

Heinrich von Pierer, outgoing chief executive of multinational Siemens, made a virtue of modesty on Thursday by telling shareholders in Munich how he had discovered one company employee in his 12 years at the helm who had never heard of him.

Pierer (64) recalled sending a e-mail with Christmas greetings to all staff and receiving a polite reply from an employee in China: ”Thank you for your Christmas greetings. But who are you?” The chief said he had simply replied, ”I’m your CEO.” – Sapa-dpa