ZEW Ceremony: As Kohl Retires, von Schuttenbach Rises to the Challenge
PersonnelSendoff for Thomas Kohl with a passing of the torch to Claudia von Schuttenbach
Accompanied by piano music and with around 300 guests in attendance, a festive ceremony on 23 February 2024 brought an iconic era to a close. Thomas Kohl, ZEW’s first Head of Human Resources who has served as Managing Director since 2004, has gone into a well-deserved retirement after 32 years. On 1 March, he was succeeded by Claudia von Schuttenbach. The farewell was duly celebrated by the esteemed speakers and illustrious audience in attendance drawn from the worlds of business, politics, science and administration.
“It’s great to see so many of you here today, and I’m happy that so many of you from the ZEW family are here to say farewell to Thomas Kohl and to welcome in Claudia von Schuttenbach,” said ZEW President Achim Wambach.in his opening remarks to the guests, who did not want to miss their chance to wish Thomas Kohl well in retirement. Accompanied by the jazzy and bluesy tunes from pianist Luca Sestak (Popakademie Mannheim), honourable guest speakers praised Thomas Kohl’s work and his tireless dedication to ZEW. Among them were Dr. Hans J. Reiter from the Ministry of Science, Research and Arts Baden-Württemberg, who spoke as Chairman of the ZEW Supervisory Board; Stephan Junker, Vice President of the Leibniz Association and Commercial Director of the Museum für Naturkunde - Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Research (MfN); Dr. Ralph Rheinboldt, Chairman of the ZEW Sponsors’ Association for Science and Practice and Member of the Executive Board of Fuchs SE; and finally Professor Clemens Fuest, President of the ifo Institute and President of ZEW from 2013 to 2016.
The end of an era
Hans J. Reiter kicked things off: “Thomas Kohl’s retirement marks the end of an era. Under his leadership, ZEW has achieved significant financial stability while successfully initiating and implementing numerous innovative flagship projects. The recent excellent evaluation results for ZEW are a testament to the outstanding work done here, to which you, Mr. Kohl, have time and again in your more than 30 years at ZEW made a vital contribution. On behalf of the State of Baden-Württemberg, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your efforts.” Reiter was also happy that Kohl will be succeeded by the best possible candidate: “I am delighted that we have successfully recruited Claudia von Schuttenbach to join ZEW. With her strategic leadership experience, she possesses all the qualities required to further develop ZEW within the dynamic research and business environment of Germany and Europe.”
Second-largest economic research institute in the Leibniz Association
Stephan Junker then followed up by honouring Thomas Kohl’s services to the Leibniz Association in particular: “The Leibniz Association owes a great deal to you and your tireless dedication. Thanks to your foresight and entrepreneurial prudence, ZEW has grown to become the second-largest economic research institute in the Leibniz Association. During this time, there were three excellent evaluations, which confirm that ZEW is held in high esteem and has become an indispensable advisory institute in politics and business. In you, we are losing one of the most experienced directors in the Leibniz Association. We wish you all the best for your well-deserved retirement.”
Constant and driving force of the Sponsors’ Association
In his speech, Ralph Rheinboldt explained the bridge that Thomas Kohl forged with companies in the Rhine-Neckar region: “Once you depart, ZEW will never be the same. The foundation of the Sponsors’ Association was your initiative and still stands for a two-way dialogue between research and practice. You brought your entrepreneurial expertise to ZEW, with which you are the constant and driving force behind the Sponsors’ Association. We would like to thank you most sincerely for your tireless work, your vision and your passion.”
ZEW – A Mannheim success story
In the subsequent passing of the baton to Claudia von Schuttenbach, Thomas Kohl gave thanks for the years gone by in a very emotional speech as he wished his successor all the best for the future: “This time has not just been a professional journey for me, but also a lifelong one. I am so proud to have been a part of this team. 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!”
Claudia von Schuttenbach is well aware of the big shoes she has to fill and is excited to take on the challenge: “I am taking up the reins of a well-oiled operation. I look forward to further developing ZEW nationally and internationally with our partners and outstanding staff.” Von Schuttenbach was very appreciative in her thank you to Thomas Kohl for his role in the transition phase. She said: “It was intense, we discussed a lot. And you constantly assured me that I was a worthy successor to you. I have to give you a lot of credit for that. You also, in your typical way, shared your knowledge with me in a very open, transparent and direct way, thus placing your life’s work in my hands. I can assure you that it is in the right place.” Nonetheless, von Schuttenbach looked forward to her future at ZEW: “Whether working in research or in the service units, ZEW employees do outstanding work and function very well as a team. That shouldn’t be taken for granted. I look forward to moving things forward together.”
The ideal successor
Achim Wambach thanked Thomas Kohl for his great achievements and emphasised that his absence, along with that of his wealth of knowledge and experience, would leave a hole in ZEW’s collective heart. But Wambach was simultaneously pleased that Claudia von Schuttenbach would be following in his footsteps: “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.”
More than just a commercial director
As a brilliant farewell to this great day, there was a keynote speech on “Economic Challenges of our Time and the Contribution of Economic Research” by Clemens Fuest. Fuest emphasised the potential that exists when economics works with real-time data in order to be able to immediately analyse the impact of political measures, for example. Finally, Fuest spoke about his time with Thomas Kohl at ZEW and offered his warm gratitude: “Thomas Kohl was always more than just a commercial director. He was primarily interested in ZEW’s strategy, the people who work there, and economic development across Germany.”
