#44 Philipp Guth - Transforming R&D at Rittal

In this episode of the Stellar Work Podcast, Benjamin interviews Philipp Guth, the CTO of Rittal, about the company's transformation journey. Rittal, a leader in electrical enclosures and cooling solutions, is evolving from a product-centric to a solution-oriented company. Philipp discusses the need for transformation in response to increasing complexity in customer requirements and competition. He outlines his approach to change, emphasizing the importance of awareness, pilot teams, and adapting agile methods in hardware development. The conversation also touches on managing resistance, learning from failures, and drawing inspiration from innovative companies like SpaceX.

Philipp Guth

Philipp Guth has been Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Rittal since October 1, 2022. Rittal is the world’s leading provider of enclosures, power distribution, climate control, IT infrastructure, as well as software and services. In his role, Guth heads the Research & Development division and drives the company’s innovation strategy—particularly by integrating mechanical product development with software engineering and digitally supported processes.

Before joining Rittal, Guth spent over ten years in senior management positions at Bosch Rexroth and Wittenstein, including serving as CEO of the Automation & Electrification Solutions Business Unit and later as Project Lead for Digitalization in Bosch Rexroth’s central division.

Raised in Brussels and educated as a mechanical engineer at the University of Stuttgart, Philipp Guth brings deep expertise in technology, digitalization, and international collaboration. His mission at Rittal is to strengthen the company’s leadership in innovation and accelerate the global digital transformation of product and system development.

Philipp Guth on LInkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phigu/?locale=en_US

Rittal: https://www.rittal.com/

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Chapters

(00:47) Introduction to Rittal and Philipp Guth

(04:19) The Need for Transformation

(08:18) Approaching Transformation: Steps and Strategies

(12:13) Changing Ways of Working: From Silos to Flow

(16:10) Managing Resistance and Building Awareness

(19:58) The Timeline and Scale of Transformation

(24:10) Learning from Failures and Iteration

(27:58) Cultural Differences: Hardware vs. Software

(31:51) Insights from SpaceX: Rapid Prototyping and Iteration

(35:45) Advice for Leaders on Transformation