270 Change and Leadership

leadership in the inter-war period Case study: nicolae malaxa

„It was the man and the engineer who had the boldness, skill and patriotic feel- ing to show the world the industrial vocation of the Romanians, who foreign- ers considered them only ploughmen and shepherds.” Former collaborator of Nicolae Malaxa

~ Ph. D. Candidate ionuț Constantin (Faculty of Administration and Business, Uni- versity of Bucharest, ) E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: The interwar period was called the Golden Age of Romania. From a certain point of view it was. Cultural effervescence of the time, the economic boom due by the development of the industry has brought Romania to the attention of Western Europe. Many industries in the late ‘30 had advanced enough to be able to satisfy almost all domestic needs. Regarding technology, most romanian plants were behind those in the West. In heavy industry, only Ma- laxa and the Steelworks Resita were the best in Western Europe. In retrospect of these events I have considered appropriate to study this issue closely, to be fascinated by a controversial but destined to lead character, a character that has go down in history because of his pio- neering leadership actions. Key words: leadership, interwar period, Malaxa plants, economic development, entrepre- neur No. 17 ~ 2013 Change and Leadership 271

In the book “The Frontiers of young Nicolae makes his complete studies in Management” (1986), Peter Drucker says that Iasi, and then go to Germany, where he turns leadership means “vision to bring people to a back with the engineering degree. Ambitious higher level, to increase their performance to and with entrepreneurial qualities, Nicolae a higher standard” and Ordway Tead defines has the courage to make significant invest- leadership as “the art of influencing people ments in the Romanian industry. to enable them to participate in the realiza- Immediately after , Nicolae tion of a goal that arrive to consider it desir- Malaxa senses what we now call a “niche” able “. profile: production of rolling stock in a coun- Nicholas Malaxa was a true leader. try with incomplete infrastructure and, above Leader in the economic development of the all, badly damaged by war. country, one of the leading businessmen of In this context, he obtained a modest the time, a leader of the industry as a pioneer land near the capital, where in August 3, 1921 - the beginning of a “phenomenon”, as many establish a workshop for the manufacture have said of everything that Nicolae Malaxa rolling stock, locomotives and cars for repair. designed, a leading in politics and a leader in The primary basis of the workshop relation to his workers. was small iron foundry – area in which he Nicolae Malaxa romanian engineer and had specialized - designed controls for the entrepreneur, was one of the most impor- brake blocks railways. It was the time when tant industrialists in interwar period from Romania was not producing quality iron and Romania, but also a controversial figure be- ordering this blocks often mean stagnation of cause of his political sympathies. Evolution the transport abroad. of the Malaxa plants was the most spectac- This manufactory offered Malaxa op- ular economic and technological phenom- erative receipt of the orders and prompt de- enon in Romania at that time, in less than 20livery of the blocks from railway at a price years, the workshop became an industrial gi- worth accepted, not to block transport. ant, but a very important pillar for the entire Railways escape of the heavy import Romanian economy in the interwar period. obsession, understood that Nicolae Malaxa Nicolae Malaxa had all the qualities to is the solution for transport continuity and be a good leader. He managed to create a vi- Malaxa long understood that nothing makes sion and also urged the workers to aspire to you more prosperous business than ensuring that vision. To translate the vision into real- a steady customer and payer, as is the state. ity, Nicolae Malaxa appealed to different The collaboration was perfect and the means to motivate employees and to target colaboration was sealed with a mutual trust systems and processes to increase produc- relationship. On this basis, he gets a field tion. This, offered higher salaries than other near the railway station Titan during 1923- factories, social and health assistance, work 1927 were he builds a factory of rolling stock, line railway tracks and he ends an agreement equipment and lunch services. to not only repair, but also for the production Malaxa Nicolae was born in 1884 into a of locomotives of Romanian design. family of Greeks came to Moldova in the early Based on the contract, he received an nineteenth century. With the family support, important advance in the railways, and loans

No. 17 ~ 2013 272 Change and Leadership from several banks. It was enough to equip quickly change the industrial production the plant with 82 machine tools bought in series, thus achieving production capacity Germany and Malaxa to become the most of industrial equipment, machinery for the powerful rolling mill in Europe at that time. chemical, oil and others. Further, he hired 180 skilled German Malaxa initiated and implemented in workers to begin work manufacturing lo- Romania industry: rolling stock switchgear comotives, and that German workers begin (1939-1943), diesel engines (1935) Mechanical training the Romanian workers who were to transmission units, including control systems take place. (1936-1937) seamless steel tubes (in 1937 af - In 1928, the first steam locomotive made ter procedure Stiefel) Diesel locomotives for in Malaxa manufactory was delivered to rail- CFR (1938) optical equipment (1938). road, and in 1931 had began the manufactur - In 1937 in Belgrade and then in 1940 ing of the railcars Diesel traction - a European in Milan, Nicholas Malaxa present this lat- rarity at that time. est Romanian railcar types, competitive in In 1933, during the european crisis, Europe, although the industry had been es- Malaxa Plants were delivering locomotive tablished only in 1934. no. 100. Press, shows that 151 001 series- lo In 1945, it was made in Resita a comotives of Romanian design were among Romanian car Malaxa named by Romanian the strongest in Europe and experienced industrialist Nicolae Malaxa factories, whose a resounding commercial success at the name it bears. It was designed by engineer International Fair in Milan in 1940. Peter Carp and was equipped with a three- Since 1930, Romania has never import- cylinder radial engine, air cooled, 30 hp ed any locomotive, all made from Malaxa which reached 120 km / hour, with six pas- plants, or those in Resita. sengers at a rate of 11 liters per 100 km. A Due to his entrepreneurial spirit, beautiful performance, considering the age Nicholas Malaxa builds and other facto- and country roads. ries: factory seamless steel pipe (current The body of the car was mounted on the plant Republic), applying for the first time chassis with rubber buffers of 10 cm thick, in thecontinent the american rolling process which gave him comfort unmatched by other “Stiefel”. manufacturers in motion. There were about Between 1937-1938, Malaxa built the 800 cars per year, between 1945 and 1947. factory of ammunition and artillery weapons The sudden end of this car was in Sofia, in the factory rolling stock. Malaxa produced Bulgaria in December 1947 when a former on the basis of a general national defense plan military political commissar, second, under artillery ammunition, weapons and tanks de- the command of the first politruk, Nikita signed after Romanian conception. Khrushchev (1894-1971) from yhe Ukrainian front, both under General Malinovsky In only 12 years (1928-1939) Malaxa Radion, (1898-1967) was commissioned to Plants evolved from a rolling repair shop to form policy frameworks Bulgarian Army. the size of a first class industrial concern in The name of Major General was Leonid Europe. The plant organized by Malaxa af- Brezhnev (1906-1982) accompanied by ter his own plans, was designed so that could Colonel Vladimir Semiciastnii (1924-2001).

No. 17 ~ 2013 Change and Leadership 273

Bulgarian General Stoico Blagoev (1921 good relations Malaxa had with the Royal - 2000) led the Soviet senior guests with a car Household, particularly with Charles II. Malaxa 1946. General Brezhnev was so im- To illustrate these relationships I am re- pressed by that car that he called Kremlin lating a story which has the main character on the phone and asked to move plant from Maxala, Auschnitt and Carol the II. Resita Malaxa to Podgorye the Urals. So The two - Malaxa and Auschnitt - have proposed to co-interest Carol, giving it a Malaxa car died. substantial amount of money. Operation Also, Malaxa was shareholder of the seemed risky as its predecessors - Carol I and plants Astra Arad, Satu Mare Unio, IOR Ferdinand - were famous for their accuracy Bucharest (Romanian Optics Industry) Iron and rigidity in matters of business, so no one Works and areas of Resita (UDR). In the latedared to bribe. ‘30s, the concern Malaxa belonged, among Auschnitt and Malaxa have “tried their others, the current plant Faur, factories luck” in June 1931, when was the first anni- Republic, United Tohan Zarnesti and -black versary of the “restoration”. The day before smith shops Galaţi. the anniversary, June 7th, they presented the Also Nicolae Malaxa demonstrate their palace to congratulate the sovereign, then sat leadership qualities and takes care of the so- on his desk a massive bag: “Your Majesty, cial problems of the workers, giving them heavy industry is deeply grateful to you for higher salaries than other factories, social as- everything you have done and pray you re- sistance, health assistance, work equipment ceive this hundred million lei, as a modest contribution to social works of the Palace and lunch services. The construction Malaxa, “ . Charles II not only refused the gift, but took as associate the architect Horia Creanga thanked him and even decorated for their so the plants constructed after Malaxa indi- role in national economic development. Since cationsi is an important contribution to the that time, the gifts have become established, application of modern architecture in the especially birthdays, when Carol and Elena construction industry. Lupescu (Duduia) receive jewelry, automo- biles, paintings, historical documents, horses, nicholas malaxa a controversial per- stables, cottages etc. son at the time Nicolae Malaxa was a sympathizer of the Legionary movement and financier of Also Nicole Malaxa was a good diplo- most political parties, including the Iron mat and he knew that he had to attract col- Guard and . His laborators as strong as him, being one of the friendship with philosopher Nae Ionescu as- laws of leadership - Law magnetism. sured relations in the Legion, and the prox- It is said that Nicholas Malaxa has en- imity of German political circles. Malaxa riched through Government support in the puts Nae Ionescu to negotiate iron imports, a form of loans and state orders. Through fact transaction completed on favorable terms for Romanian industrialist, for which he paid the that the Government grant credit, advance house from Baneasa to the philosopher. capital them and then buy them requested During the Second World War, more output, ensuring its substantial profits. It precisely in 1941, Malaxa is accused of collab- seems that all these state orders were due the orating with the Legionnaires and therefore

No. 17 ~ 2013 274 Change and Leadership they seized factories. Later, with the com- - Be able to think creatively to provide a ing to the power of the communist regime, vision for the company and solve problems; Malaxa gain favors and sympathy of the - Be calm under pressure and make Communists because he had been persecuted clear decisions; by the Antonescu regime. - Have the desire to achieve great things; - Be well informed and have knowledge At the industrial nationalization since about things related to your business. 1948, have been taken by the state and the This qualities were possessed also by rest of the property, plants Malaxa, being re- Nicolae Malaxa. Nicolae Malaxa managed to named “August 23 plants” that communists impose his new and innovative style at a time have turned into a symbol of the workers’ when the economy is focused on agriculture, struggle against the exploiters. The commu- he managed to put bases on modernizing the nist government keeps him as specialist con- Romanian economy by its innovative style. sultant, and in 1948, with the participation of His style was characterized as demo- a trade delegation to Vienna, he emigrated to cratic but with authoritarian style influences. the U.S. and settle in New York. So he knew Thus, Nicolae Malaxa trust his employ- how to act when opportunity appeard. He ees and motivate them based on their level had the intelligence and flair to anticipate of involvement. Nicolae Malaxa communi- times when he had to make a decision. He cate directly without detours and always said what he thought. It also gave attention knew that to lead is as important as knowing to the social needs of its employees and was what to do and where to get. interested if employees were happy in that Malaxa was sentenced to death by the environment. regime for war crimes, as wartime produc- Regarding the authoritative part, tion of weapons was found in favor of fight- Nicolae Malaxa take the most important deci- ing against the USSR, and also accused of sions and work closely controling employees. cooperation with the Legionnaires. Like the type of manager, Nicolae Nicolae Malaxa requires permanent res- Malaxa fits the style maximalist aimed main- idence in the , and in 1948, the ly on tasks. On this line, he adapt every situ- future U.S. President, in that time Republican ation being a good colaborator both those in senator, , tried to introduce power and with other business people of the a bill in Congress that would enable him time. Business climate he would prefer was to obtain the right to reside in the U.S., but the demanding, sometimes harsh one. Due to his entrepreneurial spirit and Congress opposes. But shortly obtain U.S. leadership qualities, Nicolae Malaxa will citizenship and begin to develop new busi- become a symbol of the interwar period, a ness, but without having success before the figure of modern industrialism in an era in war. After learning of its past policy, the U.S. which population growth could be absorbed will try to expel, but in vain, mixer died in by industry. 1965 in . Nicolae Malaxa offered a new vision of the modalities on economic growth, he Conclusions: brought new knowledge to build a new era in Romanian industry. Some qualities that a great leader must posses are:

No. 17 ~ 2013 Change and Leadership 275 reFereNCes: 1. Aurel sasu, Breviter, Limes Publishing House, Cluj, 2004; 2. ioan scurtu, Istoria romanilor în timpul celor patru regi, vol III: Carol II, Editura Enciclopedică Publishing House, Bucharest, 2010; 3. Petre Țurlea, Carol al II-lea și camarila regală, SEMNE Publishing House, Bucharest, 2010 4. Peter f. Drucker, The Frontiers of Management, PENGUIN Publishing House, 1986 5. henry holban, Pagini de istorie. Uzinele Malaxa - 23 August – Faur, CD - PRESS Publishing House, Bu- charest, 2007; 6. http://www.evz.ro/detalii/stiri/malaxa-faur-sau-pasarea-phoenix-a-industriei-romanesti-video-858138. html: 7. http://www.historia.ro/exclusiv_web/general/articol/razboiul-nababilor-malaxa-vs-auschnitt

No. 17 ~ 2013