Bhler has confirmed that its executive board member Dieter Vgtli, head of global service and sales, has passed away last Friday, 5 June, due to a short but major illness.

He had gained significant experience with the Swiss-based equipment systems and industry solutions business, and had previously been responsible for the firms Asian operations.

We lose a great entrepreneur, a powerful leader, and a very close friend, says Stefan Scheiber, CEO at Bhler Group. Samuel Schr, in addition to his current function as CEO of Bhlers Advanced Materials business, has taken over the responsibilities as head of the SAS organisation.

Dieter Vgtli, a mechanical engineer who graduated from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ), started his career as a global power plant commissioning engineer at the Swiss-based Brown Boveri Co.

He joined Bhler in 2004, first as country head China, and from 2009 onwards also as head of Bhler Group Asia Pacific. With his entrepreneurial attitude and deep market understanding, combined with strong empathy for customers and employees, he was fundamental to the success and growth of Bhler over the past 16 years, especially in Asia. In his functions, Dieter Vgtli has also served as a member of the Bhler group executive board.

After handing over his responsibilities to his successor in Asia, he relocated with his family back to Switzerland in 2018. Dieter Vgtli passionately cared for his customers, employees and for the Bhler company. Through this, he has created a great reputation for Bhler and for himself. We are ever thankful to Dieter Vgtli for his 16 years of service to the company. Our thoughts are with his wife and family, says Stefan Scheiber.

Samuel Schr (pictured below) has taken over the responsibilities as head of the global SAS organisation, in addition to his current function as CEO of the Advanced Materials business. This internal succession solution had been in preparation for a longer time. Samuel Schr graduated as a physics engineer from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) and joined Bhler in 2002.

He took charge of the then newly founded Nanotechnology Business Unit in 2005 and was later responsible for the Business Area Grinding & Dispersing. In 2013, Samuel Schr was promoted to Bhlers Executive Board as the CEO of the Advanced Materials business. We consider ourselves fortunate to ensure continuity for our important global Service and Sales organization with Samuel Schr, who is a very successful and experienced member of our team. We wish him the best of success in this new role, says CEO Scheiber.

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Bhler pays tribute to Dieter Vgtli, head of global service and sales, following his death last week - Confectionery Production