Plenary Speakers 2019
Hendrik Wüst
Minister of Transport of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia
Hendrik Wüst has been serving as Minister of Transport of North Rhine-Westphalia since 2017. Prior to that, he acted as CEO of the Newspaper Publishers’ Association, the Association of Operating Companies, of Pressefunk GmbH as well as of dein.fm Holding. From 2004 to 2005, Wüst worked as consultant for Eutop. Hendrik Wüst has been Member of State Parliament since 2005, acting as spokesman for Economic Affairs of the parliamentary group of the Christian Democratic Party (CDU) from 2010 to 2017. Wüst joined CDU in 1992 and has been active in several political offices. He holds a degree in Law from the Westfälische Wilhelms University of Münster and received his admission as Attorney of Law in 2003.
Hendrik Wüst has been serving as Minister of Transport of North Rhine-Westphalia since 2017. Prior to that, he acted as CEO of the Newspaper Publishers’ Association, the Association of Operating Companies, of Pressefunk GmbH as well as of dein.fm Holding. From 2004 to 2005, Wüst worked as consultant for Eutop. Hendrik Wüst has been Member of State Parliament since 2005, acting as spokesman for Economic Affairs of the parliamentary group of the Christian Democratic Party (CDU) from 2010 to 2017. Wüst joined CDU in 1992 and has been active in several political offices. He holds a degree in Law from the Westfälische Wilhelms University of Münster and received his admission as Attorney of Law in 2003.
Ichiro Hirose
Senior Managing Executive Officer der Mazda Motor Corporation
In the year 1984, Mr. Ichiro Hirose started his career with Mazda Motor Corporation and continually expanding it over the following years. In 2009, he became General Manager of the Engine Design Engineering department. Mr. Hirose was announced Vice President of Mazda Motor Europe GmbH in April 2012, and became Executive Officer and General Manager of the Powertrain Development Department of Mazda Motor corporation when returned to Japan in 2015. Since April 2019 Mr. Hirose has held the position of Senior Managing Executive Officer oversight of R&D and cost innovation at the Mazda Motor Corporation in Japan.
In the year 1984, Mr. Ichiro Hirose started his career with Mazda Motor Corporation and continually expanding it over the following years. In 2009, he became General Manager of the Engine Design Engineering department. Mr. Hirose was announced Vice President of Mazda Motor Europe GmbH in April 2012, and became Executive Officer and General Manager of the Powertrain Development Department of Mazda Motor corporation when returned to Japan in 2015. Since April 2019 Mr. Hirose has held the position of Senior Managing Executive Officer oversight of R&D and cost innovation at the Mazda Motor Corporation in Japan.
Dr. Jörg Stratmann
Chairman of the Management Board and CEO of the MAHLE Group
Born in 1969 in Münster/Germany, Jörg Stratmann studied industrial engineering with a specialization in mechanical engineering at the Technical University of Berlin after graduating from high school. He began his professional career in the controlling department at Siemens Automobiltechnik in Regensburg/Germany. After obtaining his doctorate in 2000, he took over the positions at Siemens VDO in the USA, Italy, Romania and again Regensburg. When Siemens VDO was acquired by Continental AG he became Head of the Commercial Vehicles customer segment. In 2008, he joined the MAHLE Group in Stuttgart. As Member of the Management Committee, he was initially responsible for the Liquid Management Systems product line, and he took over the management of Automotive Sales and Application Engineering in May 2009. In February 2013, he joined the Management Board of the MAHLE Behr Group, and he became Chairman in July 2013. In 2014, he was also appointed to the Management Board of the MAHLE Group, and took over responsibility for the Thermal Management business unit. Since February 2018, Dr. Jörg Stratmann is Chairman of the Management Board and CEO of the MAHLE Group.
Born in 1969 in Münster/Germany, Jörg Stratmann studied industrial engineering with a specialization in mechanical engineering at the Technical University of Berlin after graduating from high school. He began his professional career in the controlling department at Siemens Automobiltechnik in Regensburg/Germany. After obtaining his doctorate in 2000, he took over the positions at Siemens VDO in the USA, Italy, Romania and again Regensburg. When Siemens VDO was acquired by Continental AG he became Head of the Commercial Vehicles customer segment. In 2008, he joined the MAHLE Group in Stuttgart. As Member of the Management Committee, he was initially responsible for the Liquid Management Systems product line, and he took over the management of Automotive Sales and Application Engineering in May 2009. In February 2013, he joined the Management Board of the MAHLE Behr Group, and he became Chairman in July 2013. In 2014, he was also appointed to the Management Board of the MAHLE Group, and took over responsibility for the Thermal Management business unit. Since February 2018, Dr. Jörg Stratmann is Chairman of the Management Board and CEO of the MAHLE Group.
Michael Reinartz
Director Innovation and Consumer Services of Vodafone Deutschland
Since February 2016, Michael Reinartz is Director Innovation and Consumer Services and thus responsible for the development of a holistic, cross-business area innovation strategy and roadmap as well as the direction of the innovation management and Consumer Services Portfolios for Vodafone Deutschland. He aims to recognize new trends in the telecommunications branch early, to prepare the implementation in strong products and services as well as to position Vodafone as innovation leader in the market. Before joining Vodafone Deutschland, Mr. Reinartz worked in diverse areas and businesses of Telekom Austria AG (A1 Group) for more than 12 years. He studied business administration and information management at University of Applied Sciences and Technologies Salzburg. Moreover, he completed Executive Management Programmes at INSEAD (Frankreich) and MIT (USA).
Since February 2016, Michael Reinartz is Director Innovation and Consumer Services and thus responsible for the development of a holistic, cross-business area innovation strategy and roadmap as well as the direction of the innovation management and Consumer Services Portfolios for Vodafone Deutschland. He aims to recognize new trends in the telecommunications branch early, to prepare the implementation in strong products and services as well as to position Vodafone as innovation leader in the market. Before joining Vodafone Deutschland, Mr. Reinartz worked in diverse areas and businesses of Telekom Austria AG (A1 Group) for more than 12 years. He studied business administration and information management at University of Applied Sciences and Technologies Salzburg. Moreover, he completed Executive Management Programmes at INSEAD (Frankreich) and MIT (USA).
Sanjay Ravi
General Manager, Automotive Industry of Microsoft Corporation
Sanjay Ravi is responsible for the development of Microsoft’s global Automotive industry business. He leads the team that supports vehicle manufacturers and mobility service providers including their suppliers and ecosystem partners with innovative solutions and services strategies that accelerate digital transformation. Leveraging the breadth and depth of Microsoft technologies along with partner solutions, Ravi’s team guides the growth and competitive strategies for Microsoft in the following areas: connected vehicles, autonomous vehicle development, smart mobility solutions, connected customer experiences and smart factory and supply chain. Ravi holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (I.I.T.) Madras and a Master of Science degree in Manufacturing Systems from Syracuse University. He is a graduate of the Harvard Business School General Management Program.
Sanjay Ravi is responsible for the development of Microsoft’s global Automotive industry business. He leads the team that supports vehicle manufacturers and mobility service providers including their suppliers and ecosystem partners with innovative solutions and services strategies that accelerate digital transformation. Leveraging the breadth and depth of Microsoft technologies along with partner solutions, Ravi’s team guides the growth and competitive strategies for Microsoft in the following areas: connected vehicles, autonomous vehicle development, smart mobility solutions, connected customer experiences and smart factory and supply chain. Ravi holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (I.I.T.) Madras and a Master of Science degree in Manufacturing Systems from Syracuse University. He is a graduate of the Harvard Business School General Management Program.