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Management of Bystronic Group Our promise is to be "Your best choice".

As a trusted partner, Bystronic stands for high-performance innovations, local expertise, and service excellence.

We are close to our customers. That builds trust and provides security. Our promise is to be "Your best choice". Bystronic management and all its employees worldwide feel a commitment to this promise.

Executive Committee

Alex Waser, CEO

Alex Waser
CEO

Automobile Engineer HTL, MBA, born 1967, Swiss citizen, joined Bystronic in April 2013

From 2010 until joining Bystronic, Alex Waser managed the majority of European markets for Ecolab, a US provider of systems solutions for the food industry, working from Ecolab’s European headquarters at Ecolab Europe GmbH, Wallisellen. Between 1994 and 2010, he worked for the SPX Group, a company that offers workshop equipment and diagnostic systems for the automotive industry worldwide. During this time, he performed a number of management functions in Europe and in the United States, including most recently as President of Service Solutions responsible for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa regions at SPX Europe GmbH, Hainburg, Germany. Since 2023, Alex Waser is member of the Board of Directors of Reishauer Beteiligungen AG, Wallisellen.

Beat Neukom, CFO

Beat Neukom
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Business economist HWV / Certified Management Accountant (CMA), born 1970, Swiss citizen, joined Bystronic in May 2021

Beat Neukom joined Bystronic as Chief Financial Officer in May 2021, also taking over the responsibility for the global IT organization in January 2022. Prior to joining Bystronic, he worked for the Merz Pharma Group, Germany, where he was group CFO from 2014 to 2021, responsible for finance, IT, and strategic sourcing. In addition, he was responsible for Merz Pharma’s commercial operations in Latin America. Previously, Beat Neukom was CFO of two start-up companies in the life sciences industry, one of which he co-founded. From 1997 to 2008, he worked for the medical technology company Johnson & Johnson in Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the US.

Johan Elster, President EMEA Region, Chief Sales Officer

Johan Elster
President EMEA Region, Chief Sales Officer

Dipl. Ing. ETH (mechanical engineering), born 1964, Norwegian citizen, joined Bystronic in October 1996

Johan Elster is responsible for all European Group entities. In addition, he holds the position of Chief Sales Officer, responsible for global sales. Johan Elster joined Bystronic in October 1996 as Managing Director of Bystronic Scandinavia. From 2007 to 2008, he was Head of Market Region Northern Europe and from 2009 to 2012, President of Market Division NAFTA and Europe North. Between 2013 and 2020, he was President of Business Unit Markets, responsible for all markets except China. Prior to joining Bystronic, Johan Elster was a Commissioning and Start-up Manager at Ems Inventa AG. Johan Elster has more than 25 years of sales and service experience in the sheet metal industry.

John-Paul Surdo

John-Paul Surdo
President Americas Region

Master of Business Administration, MBA, born 1984, American citizen, joined Bystronic in June 2023

John-Paul Surdo is responsible for the Market Region Americas. In this position, he is responsible for the sales and service subsidiaries as well as the manufacturing subsidiary in the North and South American market. He joined Bystronic in June 2023 and took over as President Americas Region in October 2023. 

Prior to joining Bystronic, John-Paul Surdo worked in multiple functions at NCH Corporation, a leading global marketer of industrial maintenance products in London and has more than 15 years of experience in sales, marketing and management.

Norbert Seo, President Asia Pacific und Australia Region

Norbert Seo,
President Asia Pacific and Australia Region

Master’s degree in Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering, born 1964, German citizen, joined Bystronic in January 2015

Norbert Seo joined Bystronic in January 2015 as Senior Vice President of Market Division Asia & Australia. He is responsible for the expansion of Bystronic’s activities in the Asia and Pacific region with the objective of increasing Bystronic’s customer proximity in Asia and increasing the expertise of the sales and service organization in the region. Prior to joining Bystronic, he was President of FFG Asia Pacific. Norbert Seo has 24 years of experience in the machine tools sector and held various management positions in Asia with Hwacheon and DMG.

Dr. Song You, President China Region

Dr. Song You,
President China Region

Doctorate Degree in Robotics and automation, MBA, born 1970, American citizen, joined Bystronic in March 2016

Dr. Song You joined Bystronic in March 2016 as Representative Director and President of Bystronic China. Since then, his responsibilities have included sales, services, marketing, R&D, strategic development, and production in China. Prior to joining Bystronic, Dr. Song You held various management positions with the Delphi Corporation and the SPX Corporation in the US and China, most recently as Vice President of the SPX Corporation in charge of the Asia Pacific region. He has a track record with responsibilities ranging from R&D to operations and general management functions. 

Eamon Doherty, Chief Service Officer (CSO)

Eamon Doherty,
Chief Service Officer (CSO)

Degrees in Business Administration, born 1968, Irish citizen, joined Bystronic in October 2016

Eamon Doherty assumed the role of Chief Service Officer with responsibility for the Services business unit on January 1, 2021. This role covers commercial aspects including customer satisfaction and improvements across all technologies. Joining Bystronic in 2016, he took over the responsibility for commercial excellence, supporting the organization on its journey towards world-class service. From 1994 to 2016, he worked for Ecolab Inc., a global organization that develops and offers services, technology, and systems for the chemical industry. During this time, he held various management positions, most recently as Vice President of North & Western Europe.

Alberto Martinez, Chief Digital Officer (CDO) and Head of Competence Center Software Services

Alberto Martinez,
Chief Digital Officer (CDO) and Head of Competence Center Software Services

Computer Engineer (University of Deusto), MBA (IESE Business School), born 1971, Spanish citizen, joined Bystronic in September 2018

Alberto Martinez has headed the Competence Center Software Services since September 2018 and the Solutions Center since August 2020. From August 2020 until December 2021 he has also been responsible for the Global IT organization. As Chief Digital Officer (CDO), he drives forward the implementation of Bystronic’s Smart Factory vision. Prior to joining Bystronic, Alberto Martinez worked as a software engineer for Lantek, from 1999 as Chief Technical Officer (CTO) and from 2004 to 2018 as CEO. He has profound knowledge of the sheet metal processing industry and more than 25 years of experience in the field of software. Effective as of January 1, 2022, Alberto Martinez was appointed as a member of the Executive Committee.

Extended Executive Committee

Nicole Progin, Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)

Nicole Progin,
Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)

Master of Science in Business & Economics, University of Berne, born 1972, Swiss citizen, joined Bystronic in May 2013

Nicole Progin was appointed Chief Human Resources Officer in May 2013. In this position, she is responsible for developing and executing human resource strategy in support of the overall business plan and strategic direction of the organization. Prior to joining Bystronic, she held various senior HR positions in industries such as logistics automation, healthcare, and IT, most recently as Head of HR in charge of Switzerland and EMEA at Swisslog AG in Buchs, Switzerland. She has more than 20 years of experience in strategic and operational human resources management.

Dr. Christoph Rüttimann, Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Dr. Christoph Rüttimann,
Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

PhD, born 1979, Swiss citizen, joined Bystronic in November 2017

Dr. Christoph Rüttimann joined Bystronic as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in November 2017. In this position, he is responsible for the group’s research & development and innovation activities. Prior to joining Bystronic, he served as Head of Customer Applications and Head of Research & Development, most recently for Trumpf Laser Marking Systems AG. With more than 15 years of experience, Christoph Rüttimann has extensive expertise in the fields of engineering and technology management. He is also a member and, since January 1, 2022, Vice President of the Innovation Council of Innosuisse, the Swiss Innovation Agency.

Marco Vinanti, Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Marco Vinanti,
Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Engineer Operation and Production HTL, Business Administration FH, born 1973, Swiss citizen, joined Bystronic in October 2010

Marco Vinanti has been Chief Operating Officer (COO) since January 2021. He is responsible for all production plants worldwide including the Shared Service Center. Previously, he was in charge of Bystronic Laser AG and responsible for the Competence Center Cutting since 2015. He joined the company in 2010 as Head of Production. Prior to this, he held various senior positions in the power tools, medical devices, and mechanical engineering industries. His expertise covers all aspects of leadership relating to strategy, operations, business excellence, as well as project and product management.

Florian Wimmer, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)

Florian Wimmer,
Chief Commercial Officer 

Master’s degree in business administration and economics, MBA, born in 1980, Austrian citizen, joined Bystronic in July 2021

Florian Wimmer was appointed Chief Commercial Officer in January 2024. In this role, he is responsible for all global marketing activities related to products, services, software, and key account management, with the objective of boosting customer satisfaction and loyalty. He joined Bystronic in July 2021 as Chief Marketing Officer and has also assumed the role for Global Sales Operations since July 2023. Prior to joining Bystronic, he held various positions with Hilti AG in the United States, the UK, and Germany. He has extensive marketing and sales experience in the fields of product portfolio management, customer segmentation, price management, sales steering, and sales and marketing automation.

Michael Präger, Group Chief Communications and ESG Officer

Michael Präger,
Group Chief Communications and ESG Officer

Master's degree in communications and economics, MBA, born in 1973, German citizen, joined Bystronic in March 2021

Michael Präger, Group Chief Communications and ESG Officer, has been head of worldwide Corporate Communications, Brand Management, Marketing Communications, and Sustainability for the Bystronic Group since March 2021. Prior to joining Bystronic, he held leadership roles in communications and sustainability in the USA and in Europe, at companies such as Alcoa, Eaton Corp., and the packaging manufacturer Owens-Illinois. Within the field of ESG (Environment, Social & Governance), Michael Präger has recently advised customers around the world through his consulting firm, in the development and integration of ESG strategies.