Manfred Petri was named managing director of mpnewco GmbH, a small private equity holding company since 2004. He has been investor and advisor in renewable energy companies. Prior to joining mpnewco GmbH, he was the Managing Director of Gerhard Petri GmbH & Co. KG in Hof. He has over 20 years of executive level experience in designing, manufacturing and selling power accessories. During his leadership he oversaw the expansion of company activities to Australia, New Zealand, USA and Eastern Europe encompassing a territory with 600 customers in 52 countries. He founded/acquired the subsidiaries in Czech Republic, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Poland, which led to increase product development that led to several international patents. He was responsible for the vertical integration of the business segments and enormous growth of the company that made the family owned business Gerhard Petri GmbH & Co. KG most attractive to integrated health solution that ties health education, nutrition, community health worker training, telemedicine and e-medical record keeping together to increase access to health and reduce health stresses in different communities several international buyers including Nexans S.A. (French cable manufacturer), which ultimately acquired Gerhard Petri GmbH & Co. KG in 2002. His career started by joining the Gerhard Petri GmbH & Co. KG in Hof/Germany, a family owned business designing, manufacturing and selling power accessories (cable connectors, cable lugs etc.). Petri received his MA from Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich/Germany, and his PhD/Dr. phil. (Dissertation supported by "Studienstiftung des Dt. Volkes"). He is fluent in German, English, Latin and has basic knowledge in French