Gerhard Dichgans, born in Germany in 1952, has lived in Italy since 1953. After graduating from the German School in Milan, he studied and graduated in the field of economics (Dipl.Volkswirt) at the University of Feiburg (D). After completing his studies, he returned to Italy and worked for the international grain trading company A.C.Toepfer in Milan and Hamburg for several years, before moving to South Tyrol in 1985 to work for the VOG (Association of South Tyrolean Fruit Cooperatives).

He was appointed as CEO of VOG in 1990 and managed the association in this capacity until 2019. Since then he has been working as an independent consultant with a focus on strategy/marketing in the fruit industry. Gerhard Dichgans lives with his wife in Kaltern/Southtyrol.