More and more, it's about geopolitics when international corporations are to make deals, says Börje Ekholm in an interview with TT in connection with the release of the quarterly report.
What's happening? Well, it's geopolitics, it didn't exist in our industry a few years ago, he says.
The USA is now Ericsson's most important market, and also the leading technology developer. "It's about being part of the American ecosystem", according to the Ericsson CEO.
The donation should be seen in that light, he says about the company's noted gift to Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony earlier this year.
Not mentioned at all
And as for the diversity work, nothing has changed in substance, according to the Ericsson CEO. The language is, however, washed in the annual report, in accordance with the Trump administration's requirements on the business community. Words like diversity and inclusion, which previously have been highlighted in the telecom company's annual reports, are no longer included at all.
We've changed the language so it won't be misunderstood, says Börje Ekholm.
For Donald Trump, words like diversity, inclusion, equality, and similar expressions are red flags – then there will be no business with the American state, he has decreed.
Has the language change in the annual report to do with Trump not wanting to see these words anymore?
We don't want our efforts, which we're proud of – we're present in 150 countries, we must create diversity based on merit – to be misunderstood.
"Value-laden words"
But is it so that one must appease Trump to do business in the USA?
They're value-laden words, we must realize that, otherwise you wouldn't ask these questions. And then we must have a language that isn't misunderstood, either externally or internally.
Do you have the owners on board with this?
It's actually the board that signs off on the annual report, says Ekholm.
Last time Trump was in the White House, his administration floated ideas about the USA buying Ericsson to defend the country's telecom industry. Have you received any such invitations from his administration?
The discussions we have with the administration, or with other politicians around the world, we actually never talk about, says Börje Ekholm.
He also doesn't want to say if he or anyone else in the leadership has personally spoken with Donald Trump.
