VTG: Retirement of Dietrich Mittelstädt
31.07.2006
Dietrich Mittelstädt (65), head of the VTG branch office Hamburg/International, is retiring on July 31st 2006 after a successful career of 33 years at the company. Sven Wellbrock is taking over as head of the branch office.
"As a very experienced engineer with an astute business mind, Dietrich Mittelstädt was always a highly esteemed partner for our customers when it came to handling every type of query relating to rail tank cars. His immense dedication, particularly when developing new business areas, and his decision-making ability enabled VTG to forge ahead in many areas," commented Dr. Heiko Fischer, executive board chairman of VTG Aktiengesellschaft.
Dietrich Mittelstädt began his career at VTG on July 1st 1973 in the rail tank car technology area, supporting the development of rail tank car new builds for the European normal gauge and wide-gauge countries, as well as the British market. Thanks to his technical expertise, Dietrich Mittelstädt also made a decisive contribution to the successful establishment of VTG tank container activities. "As member of a study group, Dietrich Mittelstädt performed pioneering work in assessing opportunities and risks in the new business area," stated Dr. Fischer. After about 20 years' involvement with rail tank car and tank container new builds, Dietrich Mittelstädt switched from technology to sales and in 1992 was appointed head of the VTG Hamburg branch. Its north German sales region meanwhile extends as far as Scandinavia, Poland and Greece.
The Hamburg/International branch office will be headed from August 1st 2006 by Sven Wellbrock (33), a shipping merchant and industrial engineering manager. Sven Wellbrock began his career at VTG in 2001, serving in the context of a management trainee programme at Preussag, the former Group parent company, as project coordinator for the integration of the Brambles European Rail Division. From 2003 Sven Wellbrock headed the marketing team of wagon hire until 2004, when as head of Group strategy he played an active role in accompanying the sale of VTG AG to WL Ross & Co. LLC.
