Top Manchester exec announces he is planning to take early retirement

Jüergen Maier

The chief executive of Manchester tech giant Siemens UK has announced he is stepping down from his role.

Juergen Maier announced his retirement after 33 year at the firm in a blog.

The high-profile businessman said he wants to focus on improving his work-life balance.

He said: “Decisions to leave great companies and teams of people are not easy and after 33 years of working at Siemens, this was indeed one of those very tough decisions for me,” he wrote.

“Whilst I have always thrived on the hard work and adrenaline that comes with my job, I also know that the body needs a little rest at times.

“So, early retirement feels right at this point, to re-charge my energy to then take on some exciting new opportunities to support UK industry.”

The Austrian born businessman is chief executive of the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership and a high-profile anti-Brexit campaigner.

Juergen Maier has been a member of the Siemens UK Executive Board since 2008, and held senior roles within Siemens in the UK and Germany including managing director of Industrial activities for the UK and Manufacturing Director of the award-winning Drives factory in Congleton.

He joined Siemens in 1986 with a BSc in production engineering from Nottingham Trent University, on a Siemens-sponsored graduate programme. He was made an honorary professor of Engineering at the University of Manchester in March 2014.

He was appointed as a non-Executive Board member of the Government department BIS in 2014, is chairman of the North West Business Leadership team and a board member of Greater Manchester LEP.

Born 1964 in Germany with Austrian nationality, he came to the UK in 1974.

Juergen was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List in December 2018 for services UK/German relations.

He will make way for his successor Carl Ennis, the company’s current UK and Ireland head of product and system sales.

Cedrik Neike, managing board member of Siemens, said: “Juergen has made a significant contribution to Siemens globally and in the UK. His engagement in the UK manufacturing, engineering and technology arena has supported both Siemens and industry in general.

“He is a role model as a leader in terms of engaging in our employees and driving the diversity and inclusion agenda, which is close to our hearts. We wish him well with his future endeavours.

“We look forward to the appointment of Carl, a passionate engineer, who is looking to continue to build on the strong foundations of Siemens in the UK & Ireland.”

 

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