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XtraBlatt Issue 01-2020

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INTERVIEW Every

INTERVIEW Every generation leaves its mark, and this is no less true for entrepreneur families. Dr Bernard Krone took many important directional decisions along the way from machinery factory to global player. On the occasion of his 80th birthday he reviews the route taken thereby – from his own very personal perspective. 18

INTERVIEW “IT Starting early … even future company leaders are not spared from wearying homework. WASN’T ONLY STRATEGY.” XtraBlatt: Dr Krone, for our interview we’re sitting here in the Krone museum, more precisely in your father’s former office. What memory does this bring back to you? Dr Bernard Krone: Not just one memory, but in fact many! For instance, I’m reminded that this February marks the 50th anniversary of my father’s death. I’m reminded of the great delight he took in the birth of his first grandchild, our daughter Nicola. And that my wife Maria was at the end of her eighth month of pregnancy with our daughter Dorothee when we had to carry my father to his grave. But I also remember the great pleasure he took in the company developing so well. XtraBlatt: Did your father then ever have doubts that you would successfully carry on his work … Dr Krone: No. That was certainly not the case! My parents influenced me very much in their separate, very different, ways. For example, what I have learnt in social competence and family values I have my mother to thank for with her heartfelt kindness, readiness to help and benevolence. She quietly brought about an enormous amount of good for people within the family, the firm, in Spelle and far further afield. From my father, I received very markedly my “entrepreneurial” characteristics. From knee-high, I often accompanied him in the factory, but also to the customers. This has enormously helped me my whole life through. He was very far-seeing, extremely “WHAT WAS ACHIEVED WAS NOT DUE TO ME ALONE.” DR BERNARD KRONE competent – although he suffered, just like my grandfather, a great deal with bronchial asthma. For this reason he was extremely concerned that he might die before I had learned enough to be in the position to take over the business. This was why he was keen to prepare me in all necessary respects for my future responsibilities as early as possible. And to pass on to me as much as he could – which was certainly not always an easy task back then. XtraBlatt: In what way? Dr Krone: For instance, after four years primary school in Spelle I was supposed to move on to the grammar school in Meppen. But it proved that I still didn’t have enough basic schooling and therefore started at Freren secondary school. With the leaving certificate in my pocket I started practical training in the Niemeyer Foundry and then moved to learning in the Claas factory – in retrospect a very enjoyable period. I would have liked a longer stay there, but my father pressed – for the above-mentioned grounds – me to move on to my next study course in Cologne School of Engineering. At that time, this was the only state engineering school featuring a special course in farm machinery. Even at that time it was clear to my father that the future of the business would depend most upon my technical competence. That I managed to be accepted into this course in 1959 as the youngest-ever student then, is very much due to Alfons Siepenkort, at that time purchasing manager and first director 19