Leitner was born in 1953 in Graz, Austria. His father was a metal worker at Andritz AG.[2] In 1978, Leitner received a doctorate in chemistry[3] from the University of Graz.[1]
Career
After university Leitner worked in research for Vianova, an Austrian subsidiary of Hoechst AG. In 1981, he started working as a management consultant for McKinsey. In 1986, he founded the pharmaceutical company Genericon Pharma[3] together with his former classmate Martin Bartenstein, who would later become a mininister in the Austrian government. Genericon Pharma’s Hungarian subsidiary Pharmavit achieved great success with effervescent tablets and generic drugs.[1] In 1995, the company was bought by the US pharmaceutical group Bristol Myers Squibb for USD 110 million.[2][4]
Leitner joined Andritz AG as chief financial officer in 1987. In 1994, he became chief executive officer.[3] In 1999, when Andritz AG was sold, Leitner acquired a 26 percent stake.[2] In July 2021, Joachim Schönbeck was appointed as Leitner's successor as CEO of Andritz AG starting in April 2022. Leitner subsequently moved to the supervisory board.[4][5]
Private life
Leitner is married, with two children, and lives in Graz, Austria.[2]
Leitner made the 2024 ForbesBillionaires List with an estimated wealth of US$ 2.7 billion, the sixth richest in Austria and 1238th richest person in the world.[6]
Honours
2006: "Man of the Year" by Austrian business magazine Trend[7]
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