"Of course, you always look around for opportunities to buy. But I'm a fan of organic growth, which is where most of the momentum is," Hagemann Snabe told the newspaper.

"The world is gradually coming out of the crisis, and that opens up enormous market potential under our own steam. If too much is bought in, we will no longer be Siemens."

The German engineering group would look at acquisitions to round out its presence in some sectors and also accelerate growth, said the Danish executive who has been chairman since 2018.

Hagemann Snabe said he also sees big opportunities for Siemens in helping customers reduce their environmental impact.

"Companies, but also key regions such as China, the EU and now the USA are pushing ahead with their plans for climate neutrality," Hagemann Snabe said.

"This new focus opens up opportunities for growth. It can be a huge business to deliver products that help customers become more sustainable."

(Reporting by John Revill, editing by Emma Thomasson)