Prior to that Kirschner held the position of Vice President Controlling, Commercial Plant Manager at the Diesel Systems division's Homburg plant in Germany from 2000 to 2006. He served as Commercial Managing Director for Robert Bosch in Malaysia from 1996 to 2000. For two years, from 1994 to 1996, he coordinated among other tasks the former K1 (now known as Automotive Chassis) division's joint venture activities in China.

Kirschner's first position in the U.S. was between 1991 to 1994, when he was in Charleston responsible for the plant and divisional controlling of the former UO division (now known as Automotive Body Electrical/Electronics Systems and Automotive Powertrain divisions).

Before that, he worked in various positions in the Nuernberg, Germany plant and the former Automotive Chassis divisional controlling group in Schwieberdingen, Germany.

Kirschner holds a PhD degree in Economics and is a graduate of the University of Hohenheim, Germany with a Diploma in Economics.