Since July 2022, Thorsten Frauenpreiss has directed global sales and service of the Newport, Spectra-Physics and Ophir brands as the new vice president global sales and service of the photonics solutions division. To fill his previous role, MKS has successfully recruited the experienced manager and laser expert Markus Ruetering. In addition to his responsibilities as vice president sales and service for Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa (EMEIA), Ruetering will also assume management at the MKS site in Darmstadt in the near future.

Markus Ruetering knows the laser industry from various perspectives. The graduate engineer started his career in research and development at Rofin-Sinar before steadily developing in the direction of sales management. During his 22-year tenure with the laser manufacturer, Ruetering held various management positions; he then moved to Laserline, where he was responsible for the company's worldwide sales and marketing as sales director. “After thirty years of working in the field of high-power lasers, I’m particularly attracted by the broad MKS portfolio, which goes far beyond laser technology itself,” explains Ruetering. He adds, “My goal is to consistently expand throughout EMEIA the compelling ‘surround the workpiece’ offering, which offers comprehensive photonics solutions from a single source.”

Thorsten Frauenpreiss, who himself was appointed to a global role after only 15 months at MKS, believes that the conditions for this are ideal: “I’ve known Markus Ruetering for many years and value his expertise. He’s ideally suited to drive MKS’ outstanding development in the photonics sector.”

In his own new role, Frauenpreiss particularly appreciates the wide variety of photonics applications that MKS can serve worldwide. “Today, many advanced manufacturing technologies are primarily based in Asia, with MKS also active there as a global player,” Frauenpreiss explains. “Along with the global MKS team, I look forward to continuing the advancements of the photonics solutions division. Our brands are preeminent and have the prestige necessary to enter new markets and further expand existing ones. It’s a joy to support and contribute to the transformation of such a dynamic company.”

Further reading: MKS appoints Thorsten Frauenpreiss as Vice President – Experienced manager and laser expert to lead MKS Photonics brands in Europe, wileyindustrynews.com, 5 May 2021