Dr Michael Berger has been appointed Managing Director of IDS Imaging Development Systems GmbH with effect from 1 January. After 27 years at the helm, Jürgen Hartmann, founder and shareholder of the industrial camera manufacturer, is stepping down. The generational change at the Obersulm-based machine vision specialist has been successfully completed with the appointment of 42-year-old Berger to the IDS management team. In future, Berger will be responsible for sales, marketing, product management and system consulting. Jan Hartmann, son of the founder, will now be responsible for Finance, Human Resources, IT and Business Innovation & Ecosystem, while Alexander Lewinsky will take over Development in addition to his previous responsibilities in Operations. Jürgen Hartmann is handing over the management of the operational business and will advise the family business in the areas of technology and innovation as Chief Innovation Manager. He will remain managing partner of Hartmann Holding GmbH.
Dr Michael Berger studied business administration at the University of Bayreuth and obtained his doctorate in sales and market management at the University of Constance. He was most recently General Manager of Li-Ion Cells at VARTA AG. A clear market orientation always characterises his actions. "The product portfolio of IDS has an enormous market potential that needs to be exploited to the full," says Michael Berger, who is looking forward to his new role.
It was important for Jürgen Hartmann to prepare early and carefully for the handover of management responsibility in his own company. With the promotion of his son Jan to the Management Board and the appointment of Alexander Lewinsky in 2021, he initiated this step four years ago. "Continuity and reliability are particularly important to us in relation to our partners and customers. Everything has its time, and after more than 40 years of working life, it's time for me to take another step back," says Jürgen Hartmann, explaining his decision. The 61-year-old industry pioneer, who is regarded as the father of the USB interface for industrial cameras, will continue to "support where desired and help where necessary" in the company founded by him, as he says. His main focus will continue to be on the development area.
