Early Life
Wolfgang Leitner was born in Graz, Austria, in 1953. His father worked as a metal worker for Andritz AG. Leitner developed a passion for science and engineering from an early age, which led him to excel in his studies. He earned a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Graz in 1978.
Rise to Success
After graduating, Leitner started his career at Vianova, an Austrian subsidiary of Hoechst AG, where he worked in research. In 1981, he joined McKinsey & Company as a management consultant. In 1986, he founded the pharmaceutical company Genericon Pharma with a classmate, Martin Bartenstein. Genericon Pharma was later sold to Bristol-Myers Squibb for $110 million. Leitner joined Andritz AG as CFO in 1987. In 1994, he became CEO, a role he held until 2022. Under his leadership, Andritz AG grew into a global leader in plant engineering.
Key Business Strategies
Leitner spearheaded Andritz AG's expansion through strategic acquisitions and a focus on technological innovation. He took a 26% stake in the company in 1999. His ability to identify and integrate companies, such as the acquisition of Xerium Technologies in 2018 for $833 million, was key to Andritz's growth. His leadership transformed Andritz into one of Austria's largest companies.
Philanthropy
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