Waiblingen, 12/4/2017 | Company press release

Dr. Christian Vogt is Chief Digital Officer at ANDREAS STIHL AG & Co. KG and heads the newly formed Digitalization Department. Together with his team he will accelerate digitalization at STIHL and support other departments in designing, developing and optimizing digital processes, products and business models. This will include, for example, connected products, software-defined products and robotics in the areas of forestry, horticulture and landscaping. “Digitalization holds great potential for STIHL along the entire supply chain – starting with production processes, through smart products and solutions for end users, to sales. I look forward to tapping into this potential with colleagues at STIHL and developing new ideas,” explains Dr. Christian Vogt.

Years of experience in digitalization and the Internet of Things

Dr. Vogt (aged 40) has been involved with digitalization, the Internet of Things and mobile communications for 14 years. After studying information technology in Bonn and software engineering in Los Angeles, then obtaining a PhD at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, he initially took on executive functions in internet standardization for Ericsson in Finland, moving to Silicon Valley two years later to help build a new research group for Ericsson there. He went on to become a business consultant with McKinsey & Company in Silicon Valley, during which he advised firms in different branches of industry in the areas of business, product, sales and digitalization strategy. Most recently, he worked as a freelance consultant in Silicon Valley supporting startups in scaling their business models.

Digitalization at STIHL

In order to utilize the opportunities presented by digitalization, STIHL not only founded a completely new department but also reorganized other departments. For example, the development team was expanded, positions for “smart solutions” were created in product management and agile teams formed. In addition, STIHL is investing in the expansion of networking and expertise as well as spinning off and collaborating with startups. The company also participates, for example, in the ACTIVATR startup program, in which STIHL staff work together with experienced startup founders to develop digital business ideas. One example of this is Freiraum GmbH, which provides a software solution to make the work of skilled trades easier. Furthermore, STIHL has a stake in the Israeli startup GreenIQ as well as High-Tech Gründerfonds, the largest seed fund for financing young technology companies in Germany.

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