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“I’ve always been driven by the curiosity to see what’s possible,” says Christian Weingärtner. “The joy of winning is greater than the fear of losing.” After successfully passing his Abitur in Landshut, Christian Weingärtner began his military service in Bad Reichenhall. There, he learned from other recruits about the then-brand-new TUM Business Administration Program (TUM-BWL).

The Right Role Models

Christian Weingärtner fondly recalls his time as a student at TUM. “I don’t think there was any other university in Germany back then – and probably still isn’t today – that could boast such a high-caliber lineup of guest speakers,” he recalls. “The nearly weekly lectures by top managers and prominent figures – Bill Gates was even there once – were very motivating and inspiring.” At TUM, Christian Weingärtner also made many close friends who remain part of his personal life to this day, or with whom he now works in the German automotive industry.

Change of Sides

After earning his degree from TUM, Christian Weingärtner joined the Boston Consulting Group and rose through the ranks from associate to consultant, project manager, and principal, eventually becoming a managing director and partner.

While at Boston Consulting, Christian Weingärtner served as a consultant to Ford in Detroit. Even after returning to Europe, he continued to advise the company and was eventually asked if he would like to switch from the consulting side to the corporate side. “When I was offered the leadership role for marketing, sales, and aftersales in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, I simply had to accept,” he says. Since February 2026, Christian Weingärtner has served as General Manager of Passenger Vehicles, overseeing the entire passenger car business in Europe, as well as strategy and partnerships for the passenger car and light commercial vehicle businesses. “It never gets boring at the company either.”

Well Prepared

In his role, Christian Weingärtner navigates ongoing geopolitical turmoil, the chip shortage, supply chain bottlenecks, and the impact of the war in Ukraine – all of which have a significant effect on production. At the same time, his day-to-day work involves steering and shaping the future of this successful, long-established company, covering everything from e-mobility and digitalization to connectivity, networking, sustainability, and global responsibility.

With his deep understanding of business, strategic thinking, and a commitment to shaping progress responsibly, TUM Alumnus Christian Weingärtner is driving innovation at Ford Motor Company. His education at TUM prepared him for this – not only in terms of technical expertise, but also in his approach to solving complex problems in a structured way and taking responsibility for the future. “Many of the departments at TUM work very closely with the automotive industry,” says Christian Weingärtner. “This gave us a lot of insight into this truly exciting industry even while we were still students.”