Mr Claes Palm, Vice President of Human Resources at Toyota Material Handling Europe (TMHE) has been awarded by Universum for his role in building an attractive employer brand. The award follows the success of TMHE’s election as “Employer Branding Company of the Year” earlier in 2012.

The award was handed to Claes Palm at “Talent Excellence” in Stockholm on October 11 in the presence of industry dignitaries and members of his closest family.
  
Universum’s statement at the ceremony gives a brief background to the award:
“Claes Palm has elevated and promoted employer branding within the TMHE organisation, all the way to the top management level. He has also demonstrated deep insights in how to use the overall corporate image to successfully attract young professionals. TMHE’s achievements in this area are in large extent thanks to the company’s solid brand profile and Mr Palm´s personal engagement,” says Petter Nylander, CEO at Universum.

Competing for talent at a broad European level, employer branding is essential for TMHE.
“As much as I am humbled and honoured by the award on a personal level, I consider it more as an acknowledgement of us working in the right direction with our local as well as pan-European HR initiatives,” comments Claes Palm.

“One must remember that Toyota is a thoroughly value-driven organisation. This makes it easy for us to stand out as a clear and distinct alternative for people who, like us, think that how you do things are just as important as what you do.”
TMHE’s culture is built on the Toyota Way, a set of five guiding principles: Challenge, Kaizen (Continuous improvement), Genchi Genbutsu (Going to the source), Respect and Teamwork. These are the pillars on which the company has built its reputation.

Claes Palm has held different positions within the organisation since 1986, first at BT Industry and following the acquisition in 2000, at TMHE. During the years, he has established a deeper understanding of how the Toyota philosophy and guiding principles can bridge cultural as well as other differences.

“My simple belief is this: If you want to grow and become successful as a company, you must offer the right climate and conditions for people to grow, evolve and succeed just as well,” Claes Palm says.
Universum has offices in 12 locations worldwide, including Stockholm, Philadelphia, London and Shanghai.