THALES SA

03/02/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/03/2021 06:10

Thales strengthens its management team in the German rail business

  • Markus Fritz takes over Germany-wide responsibility for the control and signalling technology sector in the rail business, with special focus on the customer Deutsche Bahn.

Thales, a leading solution provider for safety and control of regional and long-distance railway infrastructure, has strengthened its German management team. The aim is to sustainably implement the global growth and technology strategy successfully pursued in recent years under the management of Dr. Yves Joannic as a member of the Thales Deutschland management team and worldwide Vice President, Main Line Signalling Business Line, in the strategically important German rail market.

Particular attention is being paid to a close partnership with Deutsche Bahn, which is currently driving forward the digitisation of the German rail network in rapid steps. In the context of the pilot project 'Digital node Stuttgart', Thales is implementing the first fully digital transport hub for Deutsche Bahn in Germany.

With many years of management experience in international corporations, especially in the railway sector, 47-year old Markus Fritz is the new Vice President of the Main Line Signalling Domain Germany since 1 February 2021.

He emphasises the close, strategic partnership with the German customer:

Deutsche Bahn is more to us than just a strategic customer. Deutsche Bahn is our partner and a global reference both in its role as a pioneer in digitalisation and as a user of our products and complete solutions developed and manufactured in Germany. Deutsche Bahn in turn can benefit from our unrivalled range of capabilities in the market combined with classic hardware and software as well as digital solutions and cyber security expertise.

Dr. Yves Joannic, as one of the Thales Deutschland Managing Directors and Vice President, Main Line Signalling Business Line, globally responsible for the control and signalling technology, emphasises:

The sustainable growth of the last years, our outstanding success in the German flagship project Digital node Stuttgart and Germany's recent investments in a digital rail concept show how important Germany will be as a market and European innovation driver. Together with Deutsche Bahn, Thales is perfectly positioned in order to turn rail travel into the preferred and sustainable mobility form of the future.

In his new role, Markus Fritz reports to Dr. Yves Joannic and to the CEO of Thales Deutschland, Oliver Dörre.