Executive bodies

Siegfried Meister, born in 1938, studied electrical engineering. The founder of RATIONAL AG systematically developed the company into a worldwide enterprise offering professional kitchen technology. He guided the RATIONAL Group as Managing Director and Chairman until it was turned into a public limited company in 1999. Since then, he has taken on a controlling function as Chairman of the Supervisory Board and assists the company in an active and committed way with his vast experience and guidance.

Dr. Günter Blaschke, born in 1949, gained his doctorate after studying business management at the University of Cologne in the industrial economics department. He began his professional career in 1978 working as Assistant Manager for Marketing at Procter & Gamble GmbH, Schwalbach. From 1981 to 1990 he managed marketing, product management and video product sales departments at 3M Europe in Brussels. From 1990, Dr. Blaschke was alternately responsible for domestic and foreign sales, marketing, production and research & development at Joh. Vaillant GmbH & Co. KG, Remscheid. In March 1997, he moved to RATIONAL GmbH to take up his post as Managing Director. He has been the CEO since September 1999.

Peter Wiedemann, born in 1959, joined RATIONAL GmbH in 1988 as an engineer after studying mechanical engineering at the Technical University of Munich. From 1990 to 1993, he was Product Manager. Subsequently, he supported the development of the American subsidiary. Since January 1996, he has been responsible for the technical division. In September 1999, he was appointed to the Executive Board as CTO.

Erich Baumgärtner (CFO), born in 1954, studied business management at Rosenheim Technical College. From 1979 to 1987, he worked in various commercial functions at esserschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm GmbH, Ottobrunn. His last position at the company was managing the tender department of the appliance division. In 1988, he moved to Digital Equipment GmbH, Munich, where, from 1996 on, he was responsible for commercial operations as Managing Director. In October 1998, he came to RATIONAL GmbH. Since December 1998, he has been responsible for commercial operations on the Executive Board of RATIONAL AG.

As a member of the Board of Directors of RATIONAL AG Reinhard Banasch, born 1961, was responsible for the Marketing and Sales division (CSO). After studying business administration and sales and product management assignments at Nixdorf Computer AG, Mr. Banasch worked for 11 years with Mars Incorporated in various international Sales and General Management capacities. From 2002 he worked for Pilkington as the Sales Director for Europe and as the Regional Manager for Southern Europe. From 1st April 2008 Reinhard Banasch has been responsible for the field of Sales and Marketing on the Board of Directors of RATIONAL AG.