Frank Stührenberg Chief Executive Officer
Frank Stührenberg, born in 1963, studied Economics at Paderborn University, specializing in Business Informatics. He has worked for Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG in Blomberg since 1992.
Frank Stührenberg began his career in 1989 at Nixdorf Computer AG, Paderborn. In 1992, he moved to Phoenix Contact as an assistant to the Sales, Marketing, and Development Management Board. In 1995, he became head of International Key Account Management, and in 1998 headed up Sales in Germany.
In 2001, Frank Stührenberg was appointed to the Phoenix Contact Executive Board and has been the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) since January 2015.
Axel Wachholz Chief Financial Officer
Axel Wachholz, born in 1970, studied Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University Dortmund. He began his professional career in International Application Engineering at Bilstein in Hagen. He joined the consulting company Droege & Comp in Düsseldorf in 2000, where he focused increasingly on organizational, finance, and controlling issues.
From 2005 to 2011, he was responsible for Corporate Controlling and the Special Projects unit of the Executive Board at Benteler in Paderborn and Salzburg, before becoming the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of sanitation and heating company Viega in Attendorn, Westphalia, in 2011.
He has been the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and General Manager of Phoenix Contact since January 2018. In this role, Axel Wachholz is responsible for Finance, Controlling, Corporate Governance & Compliance, Taxes, and Law, as well as risk management and internal auditing.
Frank Possel-Dölken Chief Digital Officer
Frank Possel-Dölken, born in 1974, studied machine building at the Technical University of Aachen (RWTH Aachen). He has worked for Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co KG since 2008.
Frank Possel-Dölken began his career in 2000 as a research associate in the machine tool lab of the RWTH Aachen, where his most recent duties involved leading the Integrated Production Technology for High-Wage Countries excellence cluster. After joining Phoenix Contact, he held various management positions in the Machine Building and Tool Shop divisions for several years. As Vice President, he headed up the Corporate Technology & Value Chain division from 2016 to 2020.
He has been a member of the Phoenix Contact Executive Board as the Chief Digital Officer (CDO) since August 2020. In this role, Frank Possel-Dölken is responsible for the Digital Processes & Solutions, Digital Business Experience Management (digital customer interface and sales channels) divisions, and the central Innovation and IP Management.
Dirk Görlitzer Chief Operating Officer
Dirk Görlitzer, born in 1967, studied electrical engineering at the OWL University of Applied Sciences in Lemgo, and has worked at Phoenix Contact since 1994.
Dirk Görlitzer began his career as a product manager. In 1999, he was appointed Director of Product Marketing Connection Technology, in 2003, Director of the Business Unit Industrial Connection Technology, and in 2011, Director of the Industrial Components Division. Dirk Görlitzer has been the president and a member of the Board of the Business Area Industrial Components and Electronics (ICE) since 2016.
He has also been a member of the Phoenix Contact Executive Board as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) since August 2020. In this role, he is head of the Manufacturing Solutions division and the subsidiaries in China and India.
Torsten Janwlecke Chief Operating Officer
Torsten Janwlecke, born in 1965, studied Electrical Engineering specializing in Communications Engineering at the University of Applied Sciences Bielefeld and Business Administration at the University of Applied Sciences Hamburg. He has worked for Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co KG since 2016.
Torsten Janwlecke has held various management roles during his career, in German and Japanese firms. He was a General Manager in the connector industry for more than 10 years before moving to Phoenix Contact. He has been President of the Business Area Device Connectors (DC) since 2016.
Torsten Janwlecke has also been a member of the Phoenix Contact Group Executive Board as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) since August 2020. In this role, he is responsible for the Business Area as well as the Quality & Product Compliance, Facility Management, and Metal Parts Production divisions. In addition, he coordinates the Group’s sustainability activities.
Ulrich Leidecker Chief Operating Officer
Ulrich Leidecker, born in 1967, studied Control and Automation Technology at Paderborn University. He has worked for Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co KG since 1994.
Ulrich Leidecker began his career in 1994 as a sales engineer. Shortly thereafter, he took on managerial roles in Sales and International Key Account Management. In 2010, Mr. Leidecker became General Manager of Phoenix Contact Deutschland GmbH. He has been the president and a member of the Board of the Business Area Industry Management and Automation (IMA) since 2016.
He has also been a member of the Phoenix Contact Executive Board as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) since August 2020. In this role, Ulrich Leidecker is responsible for the Purchasing and Logistics divisions as well as the subsidiaries in the USA.