• Born in 1933

• Nationality:

German

• 1954 - 1957

Practical training as a steel fitter, studies at the
Technical University of Stuttgart

• 1996

Honorary doctorate from the Rheinisch-
Westfälische Technical University (RWTH), Aachen

• 1975 - 1980

Chairman of the Baden-Württemberg Metalworking 
Industry Association and member of the executive
committee of the German Metalworking Industry Federation

• 1980 - 1990

Chairman of the Management Board of AEG

• 1986 - 1990

Member of the Management Board of Daimler Benz AG

• 1991 - 1999

Chairman of the Management Board of the Deutsche

Bundes- und Reichsbahn, later renamed Deutsche

Bahn AG (German Rail), and Supervisory Board

Chairman from 1997

• 1999 - 2003

Commissioner of the Carl Zeiss Foundation

• Since 1990

Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Dürr AG