May 31, 1959 Born in Cologne
 Married, with two children

1980 � 1985 Studies in business management at the University of Cologne, degree: Diplom-Kaufmann (M.A.)
 
1985 � 1999 With one short interruption,
 various managerial positions at Koelnmesse GmbH

1999 � 2001  Vice President Food at Koelnmesse GmbH, responsible for the following events: Anuga, International Sweets and Biscuits Fair (ISM), Anuga FoodTec

from April 2001 Member of the Executive Board of Koelnmesse GmbH, with responsibility for the business units Furniture, Interior Design and Textiles (International Furniture Fair, interzum/ decovision), Fashion (Herren-Mode-Woche-Vibes4u, Kind + Jugend, IMB, eurotuch) and Food (ISM, Anuga, Anuga FoodTec)

December 2003 Appointed full Executive Vice President of Koelnmesse GmbH, with responsibility for the business units Furniture, Interior Design and Textiles (imm cologne / imm cuisinale, interzum, interzum Guangzhou, IMB, IMB Forum) and Food (ISM, Anuga, Anuga FoodTec; Chilled Food, BioForum; World of
Food India, World of Food Thailand, Sweets China)

from June 2004 Creation of the new business unit Technology & Environment, with responsibility for the trade fairs Anuga FoodTec, Entsorga, Carbon Expo, pacovent

from January 2005  Further Technology & Environment trade fairs: domotechnica and ProSweets