Tasks and Working Methods

The Executive Board decides on the strategic direction and development of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Its members include: President Peter Adrian, Vice President Kirsten Schoder-Steinmüller, the three Vice Presidents Klaus Olbricht, Ralf Stoffels, Klaus-Hinrich Vater, and Chief Executive Officer Helena Melnikov.

The Executive Board is mainly composed of business leaders who contribute their knowledge of bureaucracy, taxes, training, infrastructure, or international trade from their daily business experiences to the Chamber organisation.

Role in the Chamber Committee Network

Together with the Presidium, the Executive Board takes on an important filtering and steering role. It prepares topics so that the Presidium has clear decision-making bases and strategic guidelines can be effectively set. At the same time, it accompanies the work of the Chief Executive Officer by aligning priorities and tracking their transparent implementation.

Significance for the Chamber Organisation

Through its continuous work, the Executive Board strengthens the ability of the entire Chamber organisation to act. It ensures that the concerns of the economy are professionally substantiated, timely, and reliably integrated into political processes – both nationally and across Europe.

Members

Peter Adrian, President of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Vice President of the Trier Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(Chairman of the Board of TRIWO AG, Trier)
(in the picture 3rd from left)

Klaus Olbricht, Vice President of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry
President of the Magdeburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(Managing Director of Elektromotoren und Gerätebau Barleben GmbH, Barleben)
(in the picture 6th from left)

Kirsten Schoder-Steinmüller, Vice President of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry
President of the Offenbach am Main Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(Managing Director of Schoder GmbH, Langen)
(in the picture 2nd from left)

Ralf Stoffels, Vice President of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry
President of the South Westphalian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hagen
(Managing Director of BIW Isolierstoffe GmbH, Ennepetal)
(in the picture 4th from left)

Klaus-Hinrich Vater, Vice President of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Vice President of the Kiel Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(Managing Director of Vater Holding GmbH, Schwentinental)
(in the picture 1st from left)

Helena Melnikov, Chief Executive Officer of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(in the picture 5th from left)