[1] He was born on 6 December 1949[5] and studied business administration at Technische Universität Berlin and the University of Nuremberg after an apprenticeship at Siemens.
[5] In 1984, he served as head of the controlling and finance department at the MBB dynamics division, before becoming CFO and division management member at MBB's marine and special products services in 1987.
[5] After MBB merged into Deutsche Aerospace AG (Dasa), in 1991, Hertrich became senior vice president for corporate controlling.
[6] 1996 Hertrich became head of the aero engines business unit of Dasa He was president and CEO of Dasa's Motoren- und Turbinen-Union (MTU) in Munich and a member of its board of management.
[5] During 2001–2005, he served as president of the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI).