Top position: Tanja Gönner becomes the new BDI boss
Photo: Uwe Anspach / picture alliance / dpa
For the first time, a woman will lead the influential Federation of German Industries (BDI): Tanja Gönner is to become the new general manager of the influential lobby organization.
The 52-year-old is scheduled to take office in the second half of 2022. The appointment will be made by BDI President Siegfried Russwurm on June 20.
Gönner's predecessor, Joachim Lang, had already asked for his appointment to be canceled in February.
First, the medium "The Pioneer" reported on the personnel.
As a former minister in the state government of Baden-Württemberg and from her many years of leadership of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), Gönner brings extensive skills and a wide range of experience to the table, said Russwurm.
She has "excellent qualifications to represent German industry nationally and internationally in her future function, to help shape her course in climate policy and to strengthen her international competitiveness, and to actively engage in social dialogue."
CDU member and fully qualified lawyer
Gönner said that the transformation to climate neutrality, the challenges in the international context and acceptance in society are major tasks that she is facing "with respect and with great anticipation".
The BDI sees itself as the voice of business in Berlin, 40 industrial trade associations are members of the association.
The association itself represents more than 100,000 companies with around eight million employees.
Gönner is a CDU member and, according to the BDI, has been spokeswoman for the GIZ board since 2012.
From 2004 to 2011 she was Minister for Social Affairs, Environment and Transport in the state government of Baden-Württemberg and from 2002 to 2004 she was a member of the German Bundestag.
In addition, the qualified lawyer is involved in various honorary functions and holds various advisory and supervisory board mandates.
rai/dpa
