2008 started with full order books, an all-time-high oil price and a fierce fight for talent. The year ended with a financial crunch and economies around the world almost grinding to a halt. Nobody knows how long the financial turmoil will last. What we do know is this: Now is the time to take action in order to be prepared when the sun starts shining again.
The global financial crisis is penetrating the real economy faster and with more severe effects than anticipated some months ago. We all need to address the challenges posed by this financial turmoil that we’re in the middle of. But this must not be at the cost of losing sight of the future. That is where the opportunities lie for those who manage the immediate risks properly. Now is the time to balance the short term challenges with the ability to keep focus on the long-term perspectives.
A large part of DNV’s service portfolio consists of independent third-party services. We perform a balancing act between business and society to ensure trust and confidence. We do this through our key expertise in identifying, assessing and managing risk. Another important aspect of our service delivery is to provide decision support. DNV delivers valuable decision
support with a risk-based approach to businesses worldwide. In times like these it is vital to have the best possible basis for decision-making, and we want
to be available for our customers to help them improve their operations – also when times are tough. In this context, I feel that DNV’s strategy and service offerings have never been more relevant.
What has been clearly revealed by the credit crunch is the economic global interdependence. Businesses need partners that understand this global context and can help them manage the risks inherent in dealing with global operations, global supply chains and global markets.
And when the world economy recovers and the wheels start spinning again, we will still have to combat and adapt to climate change. DNV has stepped up our efforts to help customers achieve and maintain sustainable performance. We will expand these efforts by incorporating environmental and corporate-responsibility-related services across our service portfolio.
The future is not cancelled. The winners of tomorrow are those who manage the current situation by improving operations, while continuing to address the long term issues: Climate change, ethical business, corporate responsibility and safe operations.