Executive Board

Dr. Rüdiger Kapitza (58) has been the Chairman of the Executive Board since April 1996. He was appointed to the Board of GILDEMEISTER Aktiengesellschaft in 1992. Following his apprenticeship as a machinist and industrial clerk at GILDEMEISTER, he studied economics in Paderborn and obtained his doctorate at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz. Dr Rüdiger Kapitza is responsible for corporate strategy, key accounting, personnel, purchasing, auditing and compliance, as well as investor and public relations.

Dr. Thorsten Schmidt (40) has been a member of the Executive Board since October 2006. He holds a doctorate in economics from Munster University and has been working at GILDEMEISTER since January 2002. He took over management responsibility for sales and services in America, after which he became a managing director in Asia. Dr. Thorsten Schmidt is responsible for the sales and service and the information technology (IT) areas. In November 2012 he was appointed deputy chairman.

Günter Bachmann (61) has been a member of the Executive Board since October 2006. The engineering graduate studied mechanical engineering at the Technical University of Chemnitz and started his professional career in 1974 in the production area at today’s DECKEL MAHO Seebach GmbH in Thüringen. He was promoted to Head of Production in 1985 and in 1994 to Managing Director of the company. Günter Bachmann is responsible for technology and production.

Kathrin Dahnke (52) has been a member of the Executive Board since May 2010. The business studies graduate joined the group in 2005 as the head of finance. Previously she held various roles, most recently as general manager for finance. Kathrin Dahnke is responsible for controlling, finance, accounting, tax and risk management.

Christian Thönes (40) has been a member of the Executive Board since January 2012. The business graduate joined the GILDEMEISTER group in 1998, built up Advanced Technologies (Lasertec and Ultrasonic) and was most recently managing director of DECKEL MAHO Pfronten GmbH. Christian Thönes is responsible for product development, technology and the expansion of the international production workshops.

Dr Maurice Eschweiler (38) has been the deputy chairman of the Executive Board since April 2013.  He received a doctorate in economics from the University of Münster and joined the group in 2007, becoming managing director of DMG Vertriebs und Service GmbH. In his new role he assumes responsibility for the Industrial Services division. This takes account of the increasing importance of this segment, which comprises the services unit and Energy Solutions at GILDEMEISTER.