CEO Trainee– Why everyone should want to become one

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In the second of our series on the CEO trainee role, we talk to CEO Trainee Thomas Reims about his experience and why he recommends you should apply for the position.

Why did you apply for the role?
When I heard about the CEO Trainee initiative, it was a no-brainer for me to apply. Here was a unique opportunity to get close to and be involved in the leadership of a multi-million dollar organization. A shortcut to the top, where I could learn so much. After an initial interview, a case interview, and an interview with Dimitris himself, I received the call offering me the position.

What makes a good candidate?
To be considered for this role you need to have a good sense of business and be able to read, interpret and draw conclusions from a financial report. It’s also good if you are structured – being able to manage your time effectively and present insights to decision-makers in an intuitive way is key.

What does the CEO Trainee role entail?
You work side-by-side Knightec CEO Dimitris Gioulekas, every day. Whatever is on his table is on yours. It’s not a case of being handed work but working together. No assignment is too big or too small. No question is too daft. It’s a case of listen, learn and act.
Practically, you will be involved in planning, writing and analyzing performance reports, brainstorming ideas and simply being a sounding board for major decisions. I’ve worked with the long-term strategy of the company, so the result of some of the things I’ve been involved in won’t be seen for several years. Other short-term assignments have already been implemented.

What advice would you give someone taking up the role?
You really are a spider in the web in this role. So, you need to get to know as many people as possible in the organization. You will be involved with different regions and business units so you need to build a relationship with those heading them as well as those responsible for the different projects and processes. Also, brush up on your spreadsheet and presentation skills, it will be key to your day-to-day. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask questions it is essential as you learn on the job.

What are your biggest learnings?
I’d say it's learning to prioritize. Some decisions can be taken quickly others need time and resources to take and time for the results to be realized. Also filtering out unnecessary information so that meetings and discussions can be streamlined based on the key facts. Less is more, as long as it’s quality.

Finally, how will you use your experience moving forward?
I’ve learned so much in such a short period of time. Working so closely with Dimitris has taught me what’s required to run a successful company in growth, and that will stay with me forever. In the immediate term, I will be working as a Business Controller and M&A associate, analyzing and reporting on the performance of different Knightec business units as well as coordinating Knightec’s merger and acquisition process. In that sense, I’ve had the ideal education to work with this and deliver the necessary insights to support senior management with strategic decisions.

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