In the world of lithography machines, ASML is like a giant among giants, just like a big director in the film industry, no one knows it, no one respects it.
It's the kind of existence that when the name is mentioned, everyone else has to give it face immediately.
However, at a recent shareholder meeting, the CEO of ASML quietly announced his retirement!
Imagine that the movie you've been waiting for for a long time is finally released, but suddenly there is a change of director, is it a feeling of being caught off guard?
Fouquet takes over, hard up!
The news of Wennink's retirement caused quite a stir within ASML.
After all, he was the backbone of the company, and his departure left many people feeling a sense of loss and unease.
But don't worry, because the new CEO Faucault is not a fuel-efficient lamp!
Although he is French, he is a household name in the ASML family.
15 years! These 15 years, he has not lived in vain.
Think about how he looked when he first entered ASML, like an ordinary soldier, but now, he has grown into a general in the company!
Yes, this is not a lie, but his real journey! He once said: "I have been in ASML for 15 years, from a small soldier to a general, and now, it's time to take charge!"
This sentence is not only a summary of my own experience, but also a bold statement for the future!
Technology pioneer, new leader in place
ASML is no idle, they have always been at the forefront of the field of wafer fabrication equipment.
Imagine it's like a long-distance race, and ASML is always the one in the lead, constantly rushing forward, always under the nose of others!
During Wennink's tenure as CEO, ASML continued to develop new technologies and improve its own technical level.
Did you know that their EUV technology is a big killer and the key to making the most cutting-edge chips!
It is said that more than 90% of the advanced chips in the global market are made through this technology!
This is simply the pinnacle of the technological universe! However, just after Wennink announced his retirement, Fouquet took over the hot potato.
For him, it is not a piece of cake to continue to maintain technological innovation, it is a big challenge! You know, if ASML loses its technological leadership, it will be digging its own grave!
The Sino-US trade war is cloudy
The impact of the US-China trade war on ASML is indeed a headache.
As the world's leading supplier of semiconductor equipment, ASML has both the needs of the US market and the support of the Chinese market, which puts them in a dilemma.
Under the policy constraints of the United States, ASML has to face squeeze from the two largest markets.
The United States forced the Dutch government to restrict the export of high-end lithography machines to China, which is undoubtedly a heavy blow to ASML.
The Chinese market has always been an important pillar of ASML, and the latest data shows that in the first quarter of 2024, ASML's sales in the Chinese market accounted for 49% of total sales, which can be described as a large proportion.
At this time, ASML is really in a dilemma, embracing the United States on the left and China on the right, like a lamb sandwiched between China and the United States.
Faced with this dilemma, ASML must be cautious.
After all, cooperation with the United States is crucial for its technological innovation and market stability, but at the same time, the potential of the Chinese market should not be underestimated.
ASML needs to maintain existing markets while looking for new market opportunities and reducing over-reliance on any one market.
In addition to being politically neutral, ASML can also strengthen cooperation with other countries, especially in Europe and Asia, to reduce its dependence on the U.S. and Chinese markets.
At the same time, they can also increase investment in R&D to improve product innovation and market competitiveness, so that even if they are limited by one market, they can find alternatives in other markets.
"Decoupling" or "cooperation" is a difficult choice
Fuquet's appointment is indeed a pivotal turning point in meeting the challenges of the current situation.
His attitude is clearly pragmatic and pragmatic, rather than swayed by emotions or overconfidence.
He is well aware that decoupling the industry's supply chain is not only difficult, but also costly.
As a global manufacturing hub, there is a growing demand for advanced manufacturing technologies, and high-end equipment such as ASML's lithography machines play an indispensable role, so "decoupling" is not a wise move.
In this context, Fuquet made it clear that avenues for cooperation need to be sought.
He realized that instead of trying to isolate himself, he should actively look for partners and learn from each other's strengths and weaknesses in cooperation to achieve a win-win situation.
This kind of openness and inclusiveness is exactly what is needed in the current era and is one of the best strategies to deal with the challenges.
Despite his high position as CEO, Fuquet is not self-centered, but rather has a civilian heart, maintaining a sensitivity and sense of responsibility to the industry as a whole and the global economy.
His leadership style is clearly more focused on teamwork and co-development than on going it alone or dictating.
"Not afraid of risks" is another empty phrase?
In the business world, it is indeed difficult to describe kindness and warmth.
Despite the warmth of Fouquet's rhetoric, the warmth is often diluted by reality in the brutal competition of the business world.
His statement that "decoupling the supply chain of the industry is extremely difficult and costly, and the only way to succeed is through cooperation" sounds reasonable, but whether it can be fully trusted needs more consideration.
After all, the business world is full of uncertainties and uncertainties.
Even though Fuquet expressed a vision for cooperation, no one can guarantee that there will not be greater variables in the future.
In the turbulent global political and economic environment, it is difficult for any company to ensure that its future development path is full of stability.
Perhaps, Fouquet's rhetoric is just a statement, to find a step down for himself.
In the business world, leaders often need to show confidence and optimism to stabilize the confidence of investors and employees, but that doesn't mean they can be in full control of the situation.
epilogue
In any case, ASML changes the coach and Faucet takes over, this is a big drama! In this front line of the business war, who can win depends on the development of the plot later.
However, for ASML, the stakes are too big, and if you are not careful, you may lose everything!
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