Wolfgang Reitzle
Encyclopedia
Dr. Wolfgang Reitzle (born Neu-Ulm
7 March 1949) is a German
businessman
.
After leaving his school in Ulm, Reitzle continued his education at the Technical University of Munich
where he studied mechanical engineering
and economics. In 1971, aged just 22, he became Munich's
youngest ever "Diplom-Ingenieur" graduate.
In 1976, he joined BMW
where he would progress to the No. 2 position. He was in charge of product development for more than ten years from 1987, presiding with meticulous attention over the development and launch of a string of successful models.
Between 1999 and 1 May 2002, Reitzle was the head of Ford's Premier Automotive Group
, overseeing the Volvo
, Jaguar, and Land Rover
marques
. He let it be known that he left Ford when it became clear that he would not have sufficient control of developing new models through to the production process: the cost containing instincts of fellow director Nick Scheele
were destined to ensure that the PAG
vehicles would not benefit from his uncompromising approach sufficiently to compete on level terms with market leaders such as Lexus
and BMW
.
When he left Ford, Reitzle denied having been offered a role with General Motors
as heir apparent by Bob Lutz, initially taking over responsibility for Opel
and Saab
: Ford had provided him with sufficient experience of US auto industry corporate culture. A naval metaphor that he was prepared to place on record was that he "would rather be captain on a destroyer than first officer on an aircraft carrier".
He instead quit the car business and became CEO
of The Linde Group
, at that time a leading manufacturer of Fork-lift trucks
and an industrial gas
company, joining the board in 2002 and becoming a chairman in 2003. He was replaced at Ford by Mark Fields
, who had previously headed up Mazda
.
Reitzle is also Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Continental AG
, and member of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Telekom
and KION Group
.
.
Neu-Ulm
Neu-Ulm is a town in Bavaria, capital of the Neu-Ulm district. Neighbouring towns include Ulm, Senden, Pfaffenhofen an der Roth, Holzheim, Nersingen and Elchingen. The population is 51,110 .-History:...
7 March 1949) is a German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
businessman
Businessperson
A businessperson is someone involved in a particular undertaking of activities for the purpose of generating revenue from a combination of human, financial, or physical capital. An entrepreneur is an example of a business person...
.
After leaving his school in Ulm, Reitzle continued his education at the Technical University of Munich
Technical University of Munich
The Technische Universität München is a research university with campuses in Munich, Garching, and Weihenstephan...
where he studied mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
and economics. In 1971, aged just 22, he became Munich's
Technical University of Munich
The Technische Universität München is a research university with campuses in Munich, Garching, and Weihenstephan...
youngest ever "Diplom-Ingenieur" graduate.
In 1976, he joined BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
where he would progress to the No. 2 position. He was in charge of product development for more than ten years from 1987, presiding with meticulous attention over the development and launch of a string of successful models.
Between 1999 and 1 May 2002, Reitzle was the head of Ford's Premier Automotive Group
Premier Automotive Group
The Premier Automotive Group , was a group within the Ford Motor Company which was formed in 1999 to oversee the business operations of Ford's high-end automotive marques....
, overseeing the Volvo
Volvo Cars
Volvo Car Corporation, or Volvo Personvagnar AB, is a Swedish automobile manufacturer founded in 1927, in Gothenburg, Sweden. It is owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. Volvo was originally formed as a subsidiary company to the ball bearing maker SKF. When Volvo AB was introduced on the Swedish...
, Jaguar, and Land Rover
Land Rover
Land Rover is a British car manufacturer with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom which specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It is owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, forming part of their Jaguar Land Rover group...
marques
Marqués
Marqués and Márquez may mean:People*A. H. de Oliveira Marques*Anderson Luís de Azevedo Rodrigues Marques, Brazilian footballer*Fernando Marqués, Spanish footballer...
. He let it be known that he left Ford when it became clear that he would not have sufficient control of developing new models through to the production process: the cost containing instincts of fellow director Nick Scheele
Nick Scheele
Sir Nicholas Scheele is a former Chancellor of the University of Warwick and formerly President and Chief Operating Officer of Ford Motor Company...
were destined to ensure that the PAG
Premier Automotive Group
The Premier Automotive Group , was a group within the Ford Motor Company which was formed in 1999 to oversee the business operations of Ford's high-end automotive marques....
vehicles would not benefit from his uncompromising approach sufficiently to compete on level terms with market leaders such as Lexus
Lexus
is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation. First introduced in 1989 in the United States, Lexus is now sold globally and has become Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. The Lexus marque is marketed in over 70 countries and territories worldwide, and has...
and BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
.
When he left Ford, Reitzle denied having been offered a role with General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
as heir apparent by Bob Lutz, initially taking over responsibility for Opel
Opel
Adam Opel AG, generally shortened to Opel, is a German automobile company founded by Adam Opel in 1862. Opel has been building automobiles since 1899, and became an Aktiengesellschaft in 1929...
and Saab
Saab
Saab AB is a Swedish aerospace and defence company, founded in 1937. From 1947 to 1990 it was the parent company of automobile manufacturer Saab Automobile, and between 1968 and 1995 the company was in a merger with commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania, known as Saab-Scania.-History:"Svenska...
: Ford had provided him with sufficient experience of US auto industry corporate culture. A naval metaphor that he was prepared to place on record was that he "would rather be captain on a destroyer than first officer on an aircraft carrier".
He instead quit the car business and became CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of The Linde Group
The Linde Group
The Linde Group, registered as Linde AG is an international industrial gases and engineering company founded in Germany in 1879. Linde shares are traded on all the German stock exchanges and also in Zürich, and the Linde share price is included in the DAX 30 index...
, at that time a leading manufacturer of Fork-lift trucks
Forklift truck
A forklift is a powered industrial truck used to lift and transport materials. The modern forklift was developed in the 1920s by various companies including the transmission manufacturing company Clark and the hoist company Yale & Towne Manufacturing...
and an industrial gas
Industrial gas
Industrial gas is a group of gases that are commercially manufactured and sold for uses in other applications. These gases are mainly used in an industrial processes, such as steelmaking, oil refining, medical applications, fertilizer, semiconductors, etc.,...
company, joining the board in 2002 and becoming a chairman in 2003. He was replaced at Ford by Mark Fields
Mark Fields (businessman)
Mark Fields is Executive Vice President, Ford Motor Company; President, The Americas and an executive of the Ford Motor Company. As head of the Americas division, Fields was tapped to develop Ford's "The Way Forward" plan, an effort to repair the ailing automaker. He reports to Alan Mulally, the...
, who had previously headed up Mazda
Mazda
is a Japanese automotive manufacturer based in Fuchū, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.In 2007, Mazda produced almost 1.3 million vehicles for global sales...
.
Reitzle is also Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Continental AG
Continental AG
Continental AG, internally often called Conti for short, is a worldwide leading German manufacturer of tires, brake systems, vehicle stability control systems, engine injection systems, tachographs and other parts for the automotive and transport industries. The company is based in Hanover, Germany...
, and member of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Telekom
Deutsche Telekom
Deutsche Telekom AG is a telecommunications company headquartered in Bonn, Germany. It is the largest telecommunications company in Europe....
and KION Group
KION Group
KION Group is the name of a manufacturer of materials handling equipment formerly part of Linde AG. On September 6, 2006 Linde announced a new structure following completion of the acquisition of The BOC Group, with the gas and engineering businesses of the combined entity operating as The Linde...
.
Personal
Reitzle has two daughters by his first marriage. In September 2001, he married television presenter Nina RugeNina Ruge
Nina Ruge is a German journalist, TV presenter and author.- Life and work :Ruge is the daughter of an engineering professor and visited the Ina-Seidel-Schule in Braunschweig. Her sister Annette is an aeromedical doctor at the European Aviation Safety Agency in Cologne...
.