Reiner Block (52) is the new CEO of TÜV SÜD AG’s (Munich, Germany; www.tuev-sued.de) Industry Service Division, in which the international provider of quality, safety and sustainability solutions has pooled its engineering services designed to ensure the safe and reliable operation of industrial plants, refineries and power stations. Reiner Block succeeds Bernhard Kerscher, who is leaving the company to seek new professional challenges after seven years in responsible executive positions.
TÜV SÜD’s Industry Service Division offers a comprehensive portfolio of services for a broad array of industries. Contributing their expertise and in-depth understanding of national and international standards and regulatory acts, the experts pave the way for safe and reliable operation and optimization of industrial facilities, petroleum refineries and power stations. Its services cover the entire life cycle — from planning and construction to operation and finally dismantling. “Based on our knowledge and experience throughout a wide range of industries, we contribute significantly to making innovative technologies safe, reliable and sustainable”, says Reiner Block. For the new CEO of the Industry Service Division, this includes the growing market of renewable energies and energy efficiency as well as industrial automation and the Internet of Things (IoT), also known as Industry 4.0. “Within the scope of TÜV SÜD’s digitization strategy, we aim to enhance the customer value generated by existing services, but also develop completely new services”, announces Block. “Predictive maintenance services and drone-based plant inspections have successfully completed the pilot phase and will now be rolled out globally.”
Reiner Block has first-hand knowledge of TÜV SÜD’s industry services. Right from the start, he has accompanied and actively shaped the group’s international expansion in a series of responsible executive positions. After graduating in chemical engineering from TU Darmstadt, he started his professional career in 1992 at TÜV Hessen, a 55% holding of the TÜV SÜD Group. In his first position, Reiner Block was responsible for carrying out safety analyses on behalf of the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. From 2003 to 2008 Block was head of the Industry Service Business Unit at TÜV Hessen, where he headed a broad range of services for industry, commerce and public institutions. He subsequently moved to TÜV SÜD, where he was responsible for the management of TÜV SÜD Korea in Seoul. Reiner Block was appointed CEO of TÜV Hessen in October 2010. Under his leadership, the company has grown continuously and invested extensively in the development and establishment of new technologies – the Technology and Environmental Centre for the automotive industry in Pfungstadt being one example.
Reiner Block will be succeeded as CEO of TÜV Hessen by Henning Stricker, previously Business Unit Manager Auto Service at TÜV Hessen.