Claudia von Schuttenbach New Managing Director of ZEW Mannheim // Managing Director Thomas Kohl Retires

Managing Director Thomas Kohl Retires

Claudia von Schuttenbach New Managing Director of ZEW Mannheim; Managing Director Thomas Kohl Retires

After many successful years of service at ZEW, the longstanding managing director, Thomas Kohl, will be leaving the research institute at the end of the month to retire. He will be handing over the reins to Claudia von Schuttenbach, effective 1 March. Kohl has devoted over 32 years to various roles at ZEW, serving as the managing director since 2004 and co-leading the institute with Professor Achim Wambach since 2016.

Dr. Hans J. Reiter, chairman of the Supervisory Board, commented, "With the departure of Thomas Kohl, an era comes to an end. Under his leadership, ZEW has achieved significant financial stability while successfully initiating and implementing numerous innovative research projects. The latest excellent evaluation results for ZEW are a testament to the outstanding work done here, to which Thomas Kohl has consistently made a substantial contribution over his more than 30 years at ZEW." Regarding the new managing director, he added, "I am delighted that we have successfully recruited Claudia von Schuttenbach to join ZEW. With her operational leadership experience, she possesses all the qualities required to further develop ZEW within the dynamic research and business environment of Germany and Europe. She is the ideal choice to meet the challenges of the coming years."

Thomas Kohl said: "Over the decades, ZEW has produced a large number of excellent researchers, who are highly recognised in the field of economic policy advice and who have benefited from the best research conditions. I am confident that ZEW Mannheim will continue to be a success story in the future!"

In 2023, ZEW received top marks from the Leibniz Association in terms of the quality of its research, policy advice, and transfer activities. The Senate of the Leibniz Association attested to ZEW's "outstanding performance".

Claudia von Schuttenbach remarked, "I am taking over an institute that is already in good shape. I look forward to further developing ZEW nationally and internationally with our partners and outstanding staff."

ZEW President Professor Achim Wambach said: "Thomas Kohl deserves great thanks for his exceptional contributions to the benefit of ZEW. As an employee from the early days, he has played a crucial role in shaping ZEW over the more than 30 years into what it is today. With Claudia von Schuttenbach, we have found an excellent successor with substantial experience in academic management. I am very much looking forward to our collaboration."

The official handover ceremony will take place today, Friday, 23 February 2024, during a ceremony at ZEW attended by around 300 invited guests from the fields of science, business, and politics.