Wolfgang Leitner
Wolfgang Leitner | |
|---|---|
| Born | 27 March 1953 |
| Nationality | Austrian |
| Education | University of Graz |
| Title | CEO, Andritz AG |
| Term | 1994-2022 |
| Children | 2 |
Wolfgang Leitner (born 27 March 1953)[1] is an Austrian billionaire and former CEO of Andritz AG, an Austrian plant engineering company.[2]
Early life
[edit]Leitner was born in 1953 in Graz, Austria. His father was a metal worker at Andritz AG.[2] In 1978, Leitner received a doctorate in chemistry[3] from the University of Graz.[1]
Career
[edit]After university Leitner worked in research for Vianova, an Austrian subsidiary of Hoechst AG. In 1981, he started working as a management consultant for McKinsey. In 1986, he founded the pharmaceutical company Genericon Pharma[3] together with his former classmate Martin Bartenstein, who would later become a mininister in the Austrian government. Genericon Pharma’s Hungarian subsidiary Pharmavit achieved great success with effervescent tablets and generic drugs.[1] In 1995, the company was bought by the US pharmaceutical group Bristol Myers Squibb for USD 110 million.[2][4]
Leitner joined Andritz AG as chief financial officer in 1987. In 1994, he became chief executive officer.[3] In 1999, when Andritz AG was sold, Leitner acquired a 26 percent stake.[2] In July 2021, Joachim Schönbeck was appointed as Leitner's successor as CEO of Andritz AG starting in April 2022. Leitner subsequently moved to the supervisory board.[4][5]
Private life
[edit]Leitner is married, with two children, and lives in Graz, Austria.[2]
Leitner made the 2024 Forbes Billionaires List with an estimated wealth of US$ 2.7 billion, the sixth richest in Austria and 1238th richest person in the world.[6]
Honours
[edit]- 2006: "Man of the Year" by Austrian business magazine Trend[7]
- 2015: Honorary Senator of the Graz University of Technology[8]
- 2022: Erzherzog-Johann-Award [9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Wolfgang Leitner". munzinger.de. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "The World's Billionaires: Wolfgang Leitner". Forbes. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
- ^ a b c Luisa Kroll (20 November 2012). "Son Of A Machine Fitter Is New Austrian Billionaire". forbes.com. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ a b Thomas Jäkle. "Andritz – Global Player im Anlagenbau für Kraftwerke, Automobil, Zellstoff und Kläranlagen aus Graz". trend.at. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Andritz: Leitner geht nach 27 Jahren als Chef". steiermark.orf.at. 30 July 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Forbes Billionaires 2024". forbes.com. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Werner Bühringer (24 January 2007). "Lowe GGK für den "trend"-Mann des Jahres". derstandard.at. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ Barbara Gigler (26 November 2015). "TU Graz ehrt Trio". pressearchiv.tugraz.at. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ Mario Lugger (11 January 2024). "Wolfgang Leitner mit Erzherzog-Johann-Award ausgezeichnet". ots.at. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
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