Italian CEO DOMENICO TRAVERSO, President of the Danfoss Fluid Conveyance division, takes the club! questionnaire and shares his love of Hamburg’s watery attractions.
POSITIVE ENERGY
As division president and member of the Danfoss Power Solutions Leadership Team, Domenico Traverso, is harnessing disruption to achieve growth.
- What does your division do and what are the main future challenges?
“I work in Danfoss Power Solutions, where our core business is hydraulics components and solutions for off-highway and industrial equipment. One of the major disruptions we’re facing is electrification. A few years ago, we made a strategic decision to embrace electrification and become a leading player in this field. We are effectively disrupting our own business model, which is a slow but necessary process, and we are ready for the challenge.“ - What was your dream career when you were a child?
“As a child and teenager, I aspired to become a professional cross-country skier, which may seem unusual to some. In Alpine Italy, cross-country skiing is the number one sport. However, around the age of 15/16, I started to realize that I wanted a path in business leadership and I set my sights on becoming a CEO one day – after my skiing years, of course!“ - What drives and motivates you?
“I have always loved seeing a team strive and develop. Growing a highly engaged, successful, and proud organization is one of the things that drives me the most. I get immense satisfaction from helping teams reach their full potential and fostering an environment where everyone can thrive.“ - What’s your favourite spot in Hamburg?
“I live in Othmarschen, close to the Elbe, and I love the area. But my favorite place is the Alster lake, especially on a sunny day. There are so many great restaurants, but I particularly love Il Locale da Vincenzo in Ottensen for authentic pasta carbonara.“ - Where do you consider home?
“Home is where my family is, so now that’s Hamburg. My hometown is Genova in Italy, and I also spent my childhood in Gressoney in the Italian Alps, which will always feel like home to me.“ - Do you expect growth for your company and will you be expanding the workforce?
“Danfoss is planning significant growth over the next few decades, and this growth will certainly impact all of our locations, including Hamburg. Hamburg is an important hub for talent, and as we expand, we expect the demand for skilled employees to increase across our sites, ensuring we continue to attract and retain the best people.“ - Is there any charity organization that your company or you privately support?
“Danfoss A/S is an unlisted, family and foundation-owned private company, with the Clausen family and the Bitten & Mads Clausen Foundation holding nearly all of the shares, representing 99.86% of the voting power. The foundation is a strong supporter of initiatives related to technology, innovation, and social responsibility, with a particular focus on education, development, and humanitarian causes. On a personal level, I am passionate about supporting the Snehalaya Institute for disabled children in Pune, India. A group of Danfoss staff began supporting this initiative in 2013, and I have been involved in various phases of the project. More recently, I co-founded an NGO in Hamburg called Snehalaya Friends, which raises funds to support the institute. Our mission is to improve the lives of children with disabilities by providing education, medical care, and social integration. This work truly makes a tangible difference, and I regularly visit the institute to witness firsthand the positive impact we are making in the lives of these children. For more information, visit Snehalaya Friends website.“ - Did you have a mentor who helped you in your career and do you mentor others?
“Over the last 25 years, I’ve been mentored and coached many times. I have a special mentor, David Wall, who has been guiding me since 2005. He has been instrumental in helping me develop and overcome both business and personal challenges, ultimately making me a better and more effective leader. In my career, I’ve been fortunate to learn from many charismatic leaders. For several years now, I’ve also been mentoring and coaching young talents and senior leaders pro-bono, which I truly enjoy.“ - Where do you like to spend your vacations?
“In the summer, I love taking friends on a stand-up paddleboard tour on the canals or on a walk around the lake. It’s a wonderful way to experience the city.“ - Where do you take friends visiting Hamburg?
“Digitisation, automation and the increased use of AI to optimise container terminal operations will play an increasingly large role in the years to come.“ - How was 2024 for your company and what do you expect for the future?
“2024 presented a mix of challenges and progress for Danfoss, but we remained focused on our key objectives. For 2025 and 2026, our primary goal is to strengthen our market position through regionalization and closer collaboration with customers, while overcoming the pressures from tariffs and global uncertainties. We are optimistic about longterm growth driven by new trends.“ - How many people does your company employ?
“Danfoss employs approximately 39.000 people worldwide, with over 4.000 in Germany and around 180 in Hamburg. Given the company’s ongoing growth, I expect this number to continue to rise as we expand and embrace new challenges.“ - What do you like about Hamburg?
“I love Hamburg because it’s a beautiful city with plenty of greenery, safety, and a great quality of life. My family is here, so whenever I return from a longer stay abroad, I always look forward to seeing my kids and my partner.“ - What do you appreciate in having Hamburg as a location for your company?
”Hamburg is a fantastic location for attracting international talent. We have around 180 employees from 33 different nationalities at Danfoss’ Hamburg office. The city’s convenience is a big factor for us, with a good airport and only a 2-hour drive from our headquarters in Nordborg, Denmark. Hamburg is a great place to live—cosmopolitan, vibrant, and full of life. However, one thing that could make it even better would be having more direct flights from Hamburg to destinations outside Europe, such as the US or Asia.”
DOMENICO TRAVERSO
The Italian business leader has over 20 years of executive experience in turnarounds, M&A, carve-outs, ESG, and post-merger integration. He joined Danfoss in 2010 and is currently the President of the Fluid Conveyance Division at Danfoss Power Solutions, a €1.2 billion business with 17 manufacturing facilities worldwide.