Tanja Gönner to become new BDI Director General
Tanja Gönner (52) is to become the new Director General of the Federation of German Industries (BDI). Based on the unanimous decision of the President and Vice Presidents of the BDI, the appointment is to be made on the proposal of BDI President Prof. Dr.-Ing. Siegfried Russwurm at the meeting of the Presidium and Board of the BDI on 20 June 2022. Gönner is expected to take office in the second half of 2022.
BDI President Siegfried Russwurm: "I am extremely pleased that the BDI has won Tanja Gönner as its future Director General. As a former minister in the State Government of Baden-Württemberg and from her many years in charge of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), she brings with her comprehensive skills and a broad range of experience. She thus has excellent qualifications to represent German industry nationally and internationally in her future function, to help shape its course in climate policy and the strengthening of its international competitiveness, and to actively lead the social dialogue."
Tanja Gönner: "I am very much looking forward to my new task as Director General of the BDI. The transformation to climate neutrality, the challenges in the international context and acceptance in society are major tasks that I face with both respect and great anticipation. After many professional years in Baden-Württemberg and at GIZ in Eschborn and worldwide, I am very much looking forward to my future field of action at the interface between politics and business in the German capital."
Since 2012, Tanja Gönner has been Spokesperson of the Board of the GIZ, with around 25,000 employees one of the largest federal enterprises, represented in 120 countries worldwide with a focus on international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work. Previously, Tanja Gönner was Minister for Social Affairs, the Environment and Transport in the State Government of Baden-Württemberg from 2004 to 2011. She was a member of the German Bundestag from 2002 to 2004. In addition to her full-time work at the helm of GIZ, the fully qualified lawyer is involved in various honorary activities and holds various advisory and supervisory board mandates.
