We are delighted to welcome Dr. Ulrich Betz as the new COO and Managing Director of THEVA, which became part of Subra this April.
Drawing on more than 25 years of international leadership experience in technology-driven industries, including the superconductivity sector, Dr. Ulrich Betz has a strong track record of building high-performing organisations and commercialising technological innovations.
As he takes on his new role, he highlights two key priorities: Contributing to scale our promising technology to industrial-scale production, and building a successful team.
“I look very much forward to working on the scale up of Subra’s and THEVA’s exciting technology and contribute to turn it into an innovation that benefits society, while building a successful team that creates value for our customers and supports business growth,” says Dr. Ulrich Betz.
Clear Direction
To scale and grow a business as well as a team, Dr. Ulrich Betz first and foremost believes in providing clear strategic direction to enable the team to succeed. THEVA has undergone several changes over the years, most recently a change in ownership and, consequently, a shift in strategic direction.
“When the strategic direction changes, leaders need to adjust not only to the technological aspects of the change but also to its emotional impact, helping the team navigate obstacles and adapt quickly,” says Dr. Ulrich Betz.
Dr. Ulrich Betz’s technical background and experience leading transformation processes give him an advantage when explaining to a team tasked with driving major technological development why change is necessary and beneficial.
“My role is not only to provide clear direction and communicate decisions, but also to explain why these changes are the right way forward for the company and the team. Many people are apprehensive about change, so it is important to give them the confidence that they can succeed.”
Building a team
When it comes to fostering a culture of trust, accountability and collaboration within the team, he combines decades of leadership experience and a strong technical background with lessons learned from team sports.
“I like team sports very much – to fight together, to play together, to unfortunately sometimes lose together and striving to do better together. “
Playing team sports gave him early insights into how teams work, how to build a strong team culture, how to lead a team towards success, and how to make the most of individual strengths while managing weaknesses.
“People have different skills – some are talented in attack, while others are better at defending. But when we act as a team, we will be able to handle different situations successfully,” says Dr. Ulrich Betz
Turning strategy into action
The role of Managing Director can be abstract and complex, and it can take years to see the results, Dr. Ulrich Betz explains. That is one reason he enjoys practical activities in his spare time, where he can see the results immediately – whether developing little software applications, gardening or building things at home.
“These practical skills help me in my work by reminding me what it takes to execute the strategy and connect the bigger picture with day-to-day actions. I do not only strategise; I’m also a hands-on guy,” says Dr. Ulrich Betz and points out:
“For me, that is where personal motivation and business objectives come together. By combining my interest in technology, my curiosity, and my hands-on mindset with the responsibilities of the Managing Director role, I hope to help build a strong team, create real value for customers, and helping establish THEVA and Subra as a leading HTS manufacturer in Europe,” says Dr. Ulrich Betz.
Dr. Ulrich Betz
Dr. Ulrich Betz is an experienced executive with more than 25 years of international leadership experience in technology-driven industries, including various senior leadership positions in the semiconductor and superconductor industries.
He is specialised in developing and executing growth strategies, leading transformation processes, building high-performing organisations and helping successfully commercialise and scale technological innovations.
Furthermore, he holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science from the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany.
Press contact
press@subra.dk