Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
I’m the CEO of GEA, a world-leading process technology group specializing in the design and delivery of machinery, plants, process technology and components for diverse industries. With more than 18,000 employees worldwide, we supply efficient solutions to food, beverage and dairy processors, to dairy farmers and customers from the pharma, chemical and marine sectors, many of whom also utilize our environmentally friendly industrial refrigeration technologies. GEA solutions and know-how are used to manufacture products that improve the lives of millions of people all around the world, every single day, while minimizing the impact on the environment. This is GEA’s purpose and what we promise: "Engineering for a better world." I am very proud of: our people; our commitment to excellence and culture of innovation; the trust our customers place in us; our A-level ratings and inclusion in the climate benchmark Carbon Disclosure Project and our ability to help customers achieve meaningful efficiencies and their own ambitious KPIs. Personally, I have benefitted from having good role models, therefore I have enjoyed teaching and mentoring the next generation of engineers. In 2009, I combined my passion for flying and desire to support some of Germany’s most vulnerable citizens by founding the non-profit association FlyingHope, which provides free air transport to seriously ill children.