Industry News

Festo names Dr. Wilm Uhlenbecker CEO of North America

March 7, 2025

Carlos Miranda, whose Festo career spans almost a quarter century, will retire April 1

Festo announced the retirement of its North American Business Region CEO Carlos Miranda, effective April 1, and the appointment of the business region’s new CEO Dr. Wilm Uhlenbecker.

A family-owned global business with more than $3.7 billion in revenue and 20,000 employees, Festo’s global headquarters is in Esslingen, Germany, and this year celebrates its 100th anniversary. Festo has had operations in North America for more than 50 years.

Uhlenbecker began his career in 1994 as a management trainee at Robert Bosch. By 2003, he was the assistant to the Robert Bosch CEO and Chairman Supervisory Board. He has held senior leadership positions throughout his career and in 2019 was named president NA, Brose Group. He holds a PhD in mechanical engineering and an MBA degree, both earned at RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. Uhlenbecker will report directly to Thomas Böck, chairman of the board. He started at Festo on January 15 and will undergo a two-month onboarding process.

“As a family business entering its second century, everyone at Festo takes the long-term view and prizes innovation, sustainability, customer service and support of coworkers,” said Miranda. “After extensive meetings with Dr. Uhlenbecker, I know that he shares these values, which are essential for everyone taking a leadership role at Festo. I am proud to be making the announcement of his appointment and extremely proud of my 24 years at Festo.”

Figure 1: Carlos Miranda began his career as a sales manager at Trottner McJunkin in 1990. He joined Festo in 2001 as the sales director for Festo Mexico and by 2004, was named CEO of Festo Mexico. In 2010, he was promoted to president Festo Americas, and, in 2017, he was named president and CEO of North America, which includes Mexico, the United States and Canada.

Uhlenbecker recognized Miranda as an innovator (Figure 1). “Festo North America today has a state-of-the-art distribution, custom manufacturing and training center in Mason, Ohio, that serves North America and was built on his watch,” noted Uhlenbecker. “Festo’s sales force is the most highly trained and motivated I’ve encountered, as are its distributors. And its dedication to customer success and innovative solutions is phenomenal. Festo North America is not on the cusp of growth—it’s growing.”

Miranda began his career as a sales manager at Trottner McJunkin in 1990. He joined Festo in 2001 as the sales director for Festo Mexico and by 2004, was named CEO of Festo Mexico. In 2010, he was promoted to president Festo Americas, and, in 2017, he was named president and CEO of North America, which includes Mexico, the United States and Canada.