Honeywell Chairman and CEO Dave Cote was featured in the Financial Times’ “View from the Top,” an online program that features global CEOs and their views on business today and predictions for the future of their industries. In the video interview from London, Cote discusses the U.S. auto industry, its global aerospace business and how private equity will emerge from the global economic crisis and the role they’ll play in making companies work better in the future.
Cote also discusses Honeywell’s “seed planting” investment strategy for the long term, especially in energy efficiency.
“We are big in seed planting. We don’t just want to make this quarter, but we want to make this quarter a year from now, three years from now, five years from now. We look at seed planting on big company processes, new geographies, and new products and services,” says Cote.
On energy efficiency Cote says, “If the U.S. and Europe used existing Honeywell products, we could reduce the energy bill by 15 to 20%. That is a great portfolio to have.” Today, 50% of the company’s portfolio is dedicated to solving global demand for more energy efficient products and services.
Cote also discusses Honeywell’s strategy as a diversified technology company. He says his focus on “great positions in good industries” has been an important differentiator for the company.
“We are going to make sure that it’s a good industry first, and that we have a great position in it,” says Cote.
