German supplier Eberspaecher Group’s managing partner Heinrich Baumann died completely unexpectedly on September 18, in the Tegernsee Alps. The 54-year-old suffered a sudden cardiac death during a mountain hike.

The company says Baumann was one of the country's great corporate personalities and since 2004, guided the Eberspaecher Group and contributed significantly to its successful development. He was also distinguished by his great social commitment.

Baumann was the great-great grandson of the company founder and was fascinated by innovative technologies throughout his life. Under his leadership, the company grew worldwide from around 5,000 to now 10,000 employees at 80 locations. Especially on the way to becoming an internationally operating automotive system developer and supplier, he is credited for providing the company significant impetus.

Heinrich Baumann was born in Darmstadt, Germany in 1966. After his Abitur (high-school graduation) and two years with the German Armed Forces where he trained as a reserve officer, he studied electronic engineering at the Technical University of Munich (1988-1993). He then worked as a management consultant for Ernst & Young in Stuttgart. After completing an MBA in Fontainebleau, France (1998) he worked for McKinsey in Vienna until 2003. In 2004 he entered the family-owned company and took over the role as managing partner from his father Dr. Guenter Baumann. He had since then shared this with Martin Peters.

Besides his work for Eberspaecher, Baumann was socio-politically engaged in different areas: For the industry as Member of the Advisory Board of Suppliers of VDA (German Association of the Automotive Industry). As President of Landesverband der Baden-Wuerttembergischen Industrie (LVI) industry association and Vice-President of Unternehmer Baden-Wuerttemberg (Industry and Employer Organisation Baden-Wuerttemberg) he focused on the future of industry in Baden-Wuerttemberg. He was also involved at federal level as Member of the Presidium of CDU Council of Economic Advisers (Wirtschaftsrat der CDU e. V.). The interests of the region were also important to him. Since 2013 he was Deputy President of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) in Stuttgart and President of the IHK District Chamber Esslingen-Nuertingen. With his commitment there, dual training was particularly close to his heart.