Stefan is the OPC Foundation President and Managing Director since end 2018 coordinating the OPC expansion into the Internet of Things & Industrie4.0. He has been the Global Vice President since 2014 and the President of the OPC Europe organization since 2010 being the catalyst for initiating liaisons with other industrial consortiums that has resulted in OPC working groups developing companion specifications for the organizations respective information models. Stefan studied electrical engineering at the Technical University of Dortmund, Germany. Since 1995 he has worked for BECKHOFF Automation, starting as a software developer, later as a lead Product Manager with focus on PC based automation, connectivity, and embedded software products.