Heinrich Weiss is Chairman of the SMS group, a global association of plant and machinery construction companies based in Düsseldorf. He graduated in electro-technological engineering at Munich University. In 1968 he became Managing Director of Siemag Transplan GmbH; and in 1971 he became Chairman of the family-owned company Siemag Siegener Maschinenbau GmbH (SIEMAG). From 1974 to June 30, 2013 he served as Chairman of the SMS group. From 1987 to 2012 he was a Member of the Board of the German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations; from 1982 to 1997 he led the Working Group on China of the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business, and remains an Honorary Member of the Group. Between 1983 and 1988 he was Federal Chairman of the Business Council of the CDU. He also served for two years as President of the Federation of German Industry. Between 1984 and July 2013 he was a Member of the External Economic Relations Advisory Board of the Federal Minister of Economics and Technology, and since 1995 Chairman of the Board. He is a Member of the Administrative Board of Bombadier, Inc., as well as a Member of the Supervisory Board of Deutscher Bahn AG, Voith AG, and Germany Trade and Invest GmbH.