Luis Villalobos is joining the executive management of EDL Anlagenbau Gesellschaft mbH with immediate effect. Andreas Pörner, sole shareholder of the Pörner Gruppe, appointed Villalobos, who has served as Director Project Execution at EDL since April 2023, as an additional Managing Director of the EDL belonging to the Austrian Pörner Group at the end of November 2025. With the expansion of the management level, the company is now well positioned to further strengthen its role as a technology‑oriented and internationally active engineering enterprise, to advance its internal transformation process, and to set the course for a successful future.
I value the collaboration and mutual trust I have experienced within the company over the years. Together with Daniel Oryan, I want to further develop EDL with a strong team spirit and use our innovative strength to implement more efficient processes, sustainable solutions, and technically advanced plants in plant engineering. Our goal is to implement projects that offer real added value to our customers and further strengthen our company’s position in the market. I look forward to the new responsibilities and to contributing my experience and expertise to actively shaping the company’s future,” says Luis Villalobos.
Daniel Oryan and Luis Villalobos will now jointly lead the company as a dual leadership team. Daniel Oryan is responsible for Technology & Process Engineering, Sales, Engineering, Finance, and Marketing, while Luis Villalobos oversees Project Execution, Human Resources, Legal Affairs, IT, and Quality, Safety, Health, and Environment (QSHE). As part of the restructuring of the company’s management, Andreas Pörner will no longer continue in his role as Managing Director.
A high-achiever in several respects
Luis Villalobos was born in Guatemala, attended the Austrian School in the Central American country, and has spoken German since the age of five. The passionate amateur athlete who played semi‑professional football in Guatemala for three years, has lived in several countries and has a varied résumé. A scholarship brought him to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. After completing the officer training, he pursued further studies, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering. He then served in the Guatemalan Air Force. He also received a scholarship to Dresden University of Technology for studies in project management with a focus on France.
Multilingual and experienced in major corporations
After leaving the Air Force, Villalobos spent four years working for a non‑governmental organization, managing environmental protection projects. In 2002, he moved to Germany, completed another postgraduate program, and then began an internship at Linde KCA Dresden, where he later continued working. As a dual citizen, he managed projects for the company in all parts of the world, including Romania, Russia, the United States, Canada, France, Spain, and Venezuela.
Because processes in large corporations are largely predefined, the now 56‑year‑old was attracted to EDL by the opportunity to help shape structures and to grow with the company at a healthy pace.
“With the appointment of Luis Villalobos, we are gaining an experienced leader who supports our strategic direction and brings new momentum to the company’s development,” explains Andreas Pörner. “We are confident that together we will meet the challenges of the coming years with state‑of‑the‑art solutions,” adds Michael Volkmann, Managing Director of the Pörner Group.
