How KONE’s CEO Philippe Delorme Is Shaping Tomorrow’s Cities

KONE’s latest results for January to September 2025 reflect both solid financial progress and the growing strength of its purpose-driven strategy under President and CEO Philippe Delorme. 

Orders received rose by 2.9% to €6.834m (US$7.95m) (up 5.2% at comparable exchange rates), while sales increased by 2.0% to €8.284m (US$9.642m) (up 3.9% at comparable rates). 

Profitability continued to improve, with adjusted EBIT reaching €967.4m (US$1.12bn), or 11.7% of sales, alongside a significant boost in cash flow - highlighting the resilience of its business despite headwinds in China. 

The third quarter alone saw orders climb 3.0% to €2.139m (US$2.489m) and operating income rise to €334.4 million, supported by strong performance in modernisation and services.

The CEO’s vision

This steady growth and operational resilience underscore KONE’s ability to deliver on its new purpose announced at the start of October: “We shape the future of cities.” 

In a post on LinkedIn discussing Q3, the CEO said: “I am happy to share that we had strong Q3 results!

“I’m not surprised – our fantastic KONE team has been working really hard to make this happen. Thank you, everyone.”

Philippe’s vision goes beyond financial metrics, positioning KONE as an active contributor to making urban environments more sustainable, inclusive, and livable. 

With cities home to over four billion people today – and two-thirds of the global population expected to live in urban areas by 2050, according to KONE – the company’s role in enabling safe, efficient and low-carbon mobility has never been more critical.

By combining digital innovation, modernisation and sustainability, KONE is transforming from a manufacturer of elevators and escalators into a true “city shaper”. 

Its financial strength gives Philippe the foundation to pursue his wider ambition: helping cities move smarter, live greener and thrive for generations to come.

A clear purpose to guide KONE’s next strategy

The Finnish elevator and escalator manufacturer’s new purpose, “We shape the future of cities,” marks the next stage in its transformation and defines how the company will evolve under Philippe’s leadership. 

He says: “For me, shaping the future of cities is mainly about taking an active role. We at KONE are not just bystanders adapting to the future; we are shaping it. 

“Tackling climate change is a joint goal for all of us on this planet and we must act.” 

This purpose reflects the launch of KONE’s ambitious new strategy phase, Rise, which places sustainability, modernisation and digitalisation at the heart of growth. 

Executive Vice President of People and Communications Kaija Bridger highlights the human side of this evolution: “I personally want to feel that I can make a difference every day. I believe that this is something we all have in common, we all want to do something meaningful and be part of something bigger. 

“Contributing to developing resilient and sustainable cities is a powerful aim.” 

This shared purpose empowers every KONE employee and partner to act – ensuring the company’s strategy not only drives performance, but also meaningful, long-term impact.

Sustainable growth

KONE’s purpose-driven strategy is not just about people - it is also about the planet. 

Environmental sustainability sits at the heart of the company’s ambitions, with its Cut Carbon initiative driving meaningful progress toward industry leadership in sustainability. 

Since announcing its climate pledge in 2020, KONE’s results show it has achieved a 29% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 12.8% reduction in Scope 3 emissions per product ordered compared to 2018, advancing toward its 2030 targets of halving direct emissions and achieving carbon-neutral operations. 

Its energy-efficient product portfolio continues to expand, now featuring 32 best-in-class energy efficiency references for elevators and escalators worldwide. 

Recent highlights include an Environmental Product Declaration for the KONE MonoSpace DX Performance and multiple green building certifications across Asia. 

Recognised on the CDP Climate Change A List for the 12th consecutive year, KONE is proving that sustainability and business performance can rise together.