Ruth Gratzke Elected to Siemens Foundation Board of Directors

The Siemens Foundation today announced that Ruth Gratzke, president of Siemens Smart Infrastructure U.S. and CEO of Siemens Industry, Inc., has been named to the Siemens Foundation Board of Directors. 

“Ruth’s strategic leadership and commitment to building a more sustainable world will serve the Siemens Foundation exceptionally well,” said Barbara Humpton, chair of the Siemens Foundation Board of Directors and CEO of Siemens USA. “We’re thrilled to welcome Ruth to the Board as we seek to advance an inclusive approach to workforce development with a focus on sustainability.”   

In her current role, Gratzke leads operational and commercial activities for Siemens’ smart building, grid edge and energy infrastructure portfolio. Comprised of six business units – Building Products, Electrical Products, Electrification and Automation, eMobility, Grid Software and Regional Solutions and Services Americas – Siemens Smart Infrastructure delivers building IoT, automation, fire safety, security, energy, low and medium voltage, EV infrastructure and smart grid solutions as well as control components to the U.S. commercial, industrial and utility markets. 

“I am honored to join such an esteemed group of colleagues,” said Gratzke. “Promoting workforce development opportunities as well as offering sustainable infrastructure solutions through digitalization are key focuses that the Foundation and I both feel very strongly about.” 

Gratzke’s industry leadership complements the Siemens Foundation’s mission to advance inclusive workforce development and sustainable jobs. Most recently, Siemens announced a 10-year, $30 million investment in EVeryone Charging Forward ™, an initiative to create pathways for individuals from underserved and underrepresented communities to well-paying, sustainable technical jobs in the EV charging sector, particularly in manufacturing, installation and maintenance.  

“As a leader of Siemens’ largest business in the United States, Ruth will play a critical role in ensuring positive impact in this new program and our initiatives that support youth apprenticeships, clean energy jobs and community development,” said David Etzwiler, CEO of the Siemens Foundation. “I’m confident her expertise will help us in our mission to advance equitable access to jobs and meaningfully contribute to the decarbonization of the U.S. economy.” 

Gratzke returned to Siemens in 2019 after spending several years in executive management roles with General Electric and HUBBELL Inc. Gratzke originally joined Siemens in 1995 and relocated to the U.S. in 1999 to lead the US-based steelmaking business. Subsequently she held positions in Corporate Strategy and C-level sales, followed by general management roles in the company’s building technologies and industrial automation business areas.  In addition to her Siemens Foundation role and business leadership responsibilities for Smart Infrastructure, Gratzke is also the CEO of Siemens Industry, Inc., the legal Siemens business entity for Smart Infrastructure and Digital Industries. Gratzke also serves on the Board of Directors for the Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc.  

For more information on the Siemens Foundation, follow @SFoundation on Twitter or visit  siemens-foundation.org.