Wolfgang Reitzle
After attending school in Ulm, where he graduated from high school in 1967, Reitzle began studying mechanical engineering in Munich, which he completed four years later as a qualified engineer. He then received a research assistant position at the Institute for Materials and Processing Sciences at the Technical University of Munich, which he held until he received his doctorate in the summer of 1974. As a second degree, Reitzle also completed a course in economics from 1972 to 1975, which he completed with a diploma. At the beginning of 1976, Reitzle began working for Bayerische Motorenwerke (BMW) AG. In 1981, he rose to the position of manager in the "engine construction, parts production and foundry" department through various functions.
In 1983, Reitzle was appointed acting head of the "Research and Development" department at BMW. A year later he headed "Technical Central Planning" and in 1985 he was appointed general representative of BMW. As head of the "Development" department, Reitzle was promoted to deputy board member in February 1986 and finally to full board member in July 1987. Under the management of the head of development, BMW developed into an automobile manufacturer of global importance, whose production volume was higher than that of Mercedes for the first time in 1992. In 1993, however, Reitzle was overlooked when the chairman of the board changed, whose role passed to Bernd Pischetsrieder.
Reitzle now also took over the management of the "Purchasing" department. In 1995, Reitzle moved to the board of the Rover Group, which he chaired until 1997. In 1999, the manager was relieved of all functions on the BMW board. From March 1999, Wolfgang Reitzle took on the role of Vice President of the Premier Automotive Group of the Ford Motor Company. In April 2002 he was headhunted by the Wiesbaden-based Linde Group, which nominated him as future CEO to succeed Gerhard Full. Reitzle took on the new role at the beginning of 2003. In August 2004, the CEO of Linde AG was able to present a successful balance sheet for the first half of the year, in which the group's profits increased.
In October of the same year, the Linde Kühltechnik group sold to the Carrier Corporation, where the company was threatened with massive job cuts in the spring of 2005. In 2005, Reitzle, a lecturer at the Technical University of Munich since 1985, became an honorary professor of business management at the Technical University of Munich (TUM).
Wolfgang Reitzle has been married to the presenter Nina Ruge since 2001. He is the father of two children from his first marriage.
In 1983, Reitzle was appointed acting head of the "Research and Development" department at BMW. A year later he headed "Technical Central Planning" and in 1985 he was appointed general representative of BMW. As head of the "Development" department, Reitzle was promoted to deputy board member in February 1986 and finally to full board member in July 1987. Under the management of the head of development, BMW developed into an automobile manufacturer of global importance, whose production volume was higher than that of Mercedes for the first time in 1992. In 1993, however, Reitzle was overlooked when the chairman of the board changed, whose role passed to Bernd Pischetsrieder.
Reitzle now also took over the management of the "Purchasing" department. In 1995, Reitzle moved to the board of the Rover Group, which he chaired until 1997. In 1999, the manager was relieved of all functions on the BMW board. From March 1999, Wolfgang Reitzle took on the role of Vice President of the Premier Automotive Group of the Ford Motor Company. In April 2002 he was headhunted by the Wiesbaden-based Linde Group, which nominated him as future CEO to succeed Gerhard Full. Reitzle took on the new role at the beginning of 2003. In August 2004, the CEO of Linde AG was able to present a successful balance sheet for the first half of the year, in which the group's profits increased.
In October of the same year, the Linde Kühltechnik group sold to the Carrier Corporation, where the company was threatened with massive job cuts in the spring of 2005. In 2005, Reitzle, a lecturer at the Technical University of Munich since 1985, became an honorary professor of business management at the Technical University of Munich (TUM).
Wolfgang Reitzle has been married to the presenter Nina Ruge since 2001. He is the father of two children from his first marriage.