He graduated in Chemistry from the University of Munich. In 1981, his professional career started in radioprotection at Siemens’ nuclear activities department, where he worked as a process engineer. After having held different managerial positions within the company, in 1999 he became Siemens’ Head of Nuclear Fuel Business in Europe. In 2001, he joined Framatome ANP in Germany, before moving to Paris, where he was appointed Executive Vice President of the Fuel Business Unit, in 2006. In 2008, he returned to Germany and joined E.ON as Managing Director.