Karl-Friedrich Stracke
Encyclopedia
Karl-Friedrich Stracke (born June 22, 1956 in Lichtenfels-Goddelsheim) is Chairman of the Management Board & Chief Executive Officer of
Adam Opel AG.
Stracke, who was born on June 22, 1956, in the German town of Lichtenfels-Goddelsheim, draws on 30 years of experience with Opel and GM. He began his career as a mechanical engineer
in the area of body-in-white construction in 1979. Following additional studies in economics at the GM University in Flint
, USA, he advanced to a management position in chassis construction in 1984. In 1991 he became head of the department.
After being appointed Chief Engineer of production technology for stamping and sub-assemblies in 1993, he took on a series of cross-departmental responsibilities, including the position of Manufacturing Director at the Opel plant in Bochum
, Germany
, from 1995 onward. Two model launches – Astra
and Zafira
– as well as the plant’s implementation of lean production methods took place during this period.
In 2004, Stracke took on the position of Executive Director
GME Engineering, responsible for Opel
product development and Saab
product design in Trollhättan
, Sweden
. In 2006, he assumed responsibility for global product design for body/interior and safety for all GM
brands. Beginning in 2008, he headed the functions of global vehicle integration and proving grounds for all GM brands as Executive Director Vehicle Integration. From 2009 on, Karl-Friedrich Stracke served as Vice President, Global Vehicle Engineering, responsible for global car product development of GM. Under his leadership, engineers and technicians all over the world have developed automobiles and technologies, including the extended-range electrical cars Opel Ampera and Chevrolet Volt
.
Adam Opel AG.
Biography
Karl-Friedrich Stracke has been appointed Chairman of the Management Board of Adam Opel AG, effective as of April 11, 2011. As Chief Executive Officer he is in charge of all operations of Opel worldwide.Stracke, who was born on June 22, 1956, in the German town of Lichtenfels-Goddelsheim, draws on 30 years of experience with Opel and GM. He began his career as a mechanical engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
in the area of body-in-white construction in 1979. Following additional studies in economics at the GM University in Flint
Flint
Flint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as a variety of chert. It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones. Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white, or brown in colour, and...
, USA, he advanced to a management position in chassis construction in 1984. In 1991 he became head of the department.
After being appointed Chief Engineer of production technology for stamping and sub-assemblies in 1993, he took on a series of cross-departmental responsibilities, including the position of Manufacturing Director at the Opel plant in Bochum
Bochum
Bochum is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany. It is located in the Ruhr area and is surrounded by the cities of Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Herne, Castrop-Rauxel, Dortmund, Witten and Hattingen.-History:...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, from 1995 onward. Two model launches – Astra
Opel Astra
The Opel Astra is a small family car engineered and manufactured by the German automaker Opel since 1991.It is branded as Vauxhall Astra in the United Kingdom, the Buick Excelle XT in China and the Chevrolet Astra/Vectra in Latin America...
and Zafira
Opel Zafira
The Opel Zafira is a compact MPV engineered and produced by the German automaker Opel. The Zafira is sold under the Vauxhall marque in the United Kingdom.- Zafira A :...
– as well as the plant’s implementation of lean production methods took place during this period.
In 2004, Stracke took on the position of Executive Director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
GME Engineering, responsible for Opel
Opel
Adam Opel AG, generally shortened to Opel, is a German automobile company founded by Adam Opel in 1862. Opel has been building automobiles since 1899, and became an Aktiengesellschaft in 1929...
product development and Saab
Saab Automobile
Saab Automobile AB, better known as Saab , is a Swedish car manufacturer owned by Dutch automobile manufacturer Swedish Automobile NV, formerly Spyker Cars NV. It is the exclusive automobile Royal Warrant holder as appointed by the King of Sweden...
product design in Trollhättan
Trollhättan
Trollhättan is a city and the seat of Trollhättan Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 44,498 inhabitants in 2005. It is located 75 km north of Sweden's second-largest city, Gothenburg....
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. In 2006, he assumed responsibility for global product design for body/interior and safety for all GM
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
brands. Beginning in 2008, he headed the functions of global vehicle integration and proving grounds for all GM brands as Executive Director Vehicle Integration. From 2009 on, Karl-Friedrich Stracke served as Vice President, Global Vehicle Engineering, responsible for global car product development of GM. Under his leadership, engineers and technicians all over the world have developed automobiles and technologies, including the extended-range electrical cars Opel Ampera and Chevrolet Volt
Chevrolet Volt
The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle manufactured by General Motors. The Volt has been on sale in the U.S. market since mid-December 2010, and is the most fuel-efficient compact car sold in the United States, as rated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency...
.