Cristian Andrei
IT Regional Manager
Quick Facts
Romanian
Joined Tenaris in 2005
Interview published: August 2011
Cristian Andrei began his career in Tenaris as a global trainee in the company’s Silcotub mill in Romania. After graduating from college he accepted a permanent position and began to work his way up. Some years later he accepted an important promotion that led him to Dubai.
How did taking part in the global trainee program help you grow professionally?
I would say that as a young professional attending the global trainee program is essential. From the very beginning I’ve enjoyed combining the learning process with the responsibilities of a business application functional analyst within the IT department. This was taking place in a period when Silcotub was becoming part of Tenaris. The program really gave me an idea about the company’s global dimension and made me realize the outstanding career opportunities I had at hand. The TenarisUniversity Induction Camp is one of the main program pillars that besides setting up a strong knowledge base about the organization, it also presents models of success. Diversity is what the TUIC is all about: the amazing mix of cultures and experiences plays a valuable role in building future professional relationships.
Why did you decide to accept the position in Dubai?
I was very surprised about the location when the open position arose even though I knew that Tenaris was building a strong commercial presence in Dubai. After working for five years in a mill I considered this the chance to live my international experience: making my contribution to reach the objectives of the organization in the Middle East and North Africa. Of course it was also a huge step forward related to my career that implied assuming newer and wider responsibilities in a different cultural environment.
What is it like to work and live in the United Arab Emirates?
At the beginning I was a bit nervous about how long it would take me to adapt to the culture. Thanks to my colleagues however, in a short period of time I became part of the team. They are very supportive and willing to offer their help regarding professional and personal matters at any time. I love the mix of cultures and ages that I found in the Dubai office. I work with global trainees, junior employees and senior professionals from countries belonging to the Gulf area, South America or Europe. We all do our best to understand each other, respect our traditions and communicate as best as possible.
What are the main advantages of working in Tenaris?
In Tenaris you never get bored since there are always new projects that pose interesting challenges. Besides, Tenaris always keeps up with the latest technologies, systems and strategies, an issue that is extremely important in any area but especially in mine. From my very first moments in this company I realized that it truly is a global organization with a strong multicultural footprint. I have also noticed that Tenaris rewards the effort and hard work of its employees, offering positions that are appropriate to the skills and sense of responsibility of each one of us. To get somewhere you have to like to learn, work but also to follow your dreams and be ambitious. Tenaris will take care of the rest.
For my years to come in the company, I hope to continue learning and contributing to its development. We have done many things but we plan to do much more.