STIHL Inc. announced that Bjoern Fischer will assume the duties of vice president of finance on May 1, 2012. In addition to overseeing the financial operations of the company, Fischer’s role will also include oversight of the human resources and information services departments. 
 
Fischer, who started with the company March 1, will be replacing Karl Angler who will move to STIHL headquarters in Germany as the executive board member for finance, comptrolling, information systems and services for the STIHL Group worldwide, effective May 1, 2012.
 
“While we will miss Karl greatly as he moves to his new role with the STIHL Group worldwide, we are quite pleased to welcome Bjoern Fischer to the STIHL family,” said Fred Whyte, president of STIHL Inc. “His experience leading the financial and operational departments for the U.S. division of a German company with a worldwide reach is exactly what STIHL Incorporated needs as we continue to grow.”
 
Fischer joins STIHL Inc. after a successful career with Siemens that spanned nearly twenty years. During his tenure with Siemens, Fischer worked in Germany, California, Texas and, most recently, in Pennsylvania where he was the executive vice president and chief financial officer for the Water Technologies business unit.
 
“The opportunity to work for a company with such an excellent worldwide reputation came at the perfect time, both professionally and personally,” said Fischer, who is married with two daughters, aged eleven and six. “Not only does this position allow me to utilize my experiences working in Germany and in the U.S., along with my interest in the operational side of business, but also gives my family the occasion to settle in one place.”
 
Fischer, a native of Rustenburg, South Africa, graduated from the University of Cape Town with a bachelor’s degree in commerce.