Born in 1955. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. University diploma in engineering (Dipl. Ing.), University of Rostock, 1979. 1979-1990 worked for Barth shipyard, Barth/Germany, group leader technology, engineer for rationalisation, estimator. 1990-1992 mayor of Zingst. 1992-1994 member of the Landrat Ribnitz-Damgarten. 1994-1998 member of the German Bundestag, committee on transport. 1990-2001 worked for MGT Maschinen - und Gerätebau GmbH, Teterow, distribution management; representative of the board for plant construction in the DIEHL-concern. 2001-2005 member of the German Bundestag. Since 2005 self-employed entrepreneur. 2006-2009 member of the Landtag Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. President of the National Association DRK in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Member of the executive board of the CDU Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. MEP since 2009.