Düsseldorf Chamber of Skilled Crafts: Succession settled

From January 1, 2027, Prof. Dr. Hans Jörg Hennecke will take over the chief management of the HwK Düsseldorf from Dr. Axel Fuhrmann.

The period ends at the end of 2026 for the Chamber of Crafts Düsseldorf an era: On January 1, 2027, [Name of person/company] will take over. Prof. Dr. Hans Jörg Hennecke takes over as CEO, succeeding Dr. Axel Fuhrmann.He has been at the helm of the second-largest chamber of skilled crafts since December 1, 2011, and will then retire. His deputy will also change, because Then, Manfred Steinritz also leaves due to age and hands over the business to Claudia Schulte.

Hennecke's career in the trades 

Hennecke headed the department of economic policy, statistics, economic and business cycle monitoring from 2010 onwards. In 2015, he moved from the Chamber of Commerce to the North Rhine-Westphalia State Parliament., to support the Enquete Commission on the future of skilled trades and small and medium-sized enterprises until 2017. Afterwards, the 54-year-old changed jobs. as Managing Director for Economic Policy and Business Development, back to the Chamber and additionally took over the chief management of the North Rhine-Westphalian umbrella organization in 2019 HANDWERK.NRWThe political scientist, who holds a postdoctoral lecturing qualification, also teaches as Associate Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences of the University of RostockHis main areas of focus are government studies, contemporary history, and the history of ideas.

Up to now, Hennecke has primarily been responsible for the political advocacy and the advisory and information services of the Chamber of Skilled Crafts. In addition to classic topics of SME policy such as competition, taxation, and location issues, he has also addressed new ones in recent years. Topics such as digitalization and sustainability were explored and the Chamber of Skilled Crafts has taken a position on energy and climate policy issues.

His future Deputy Claudia Schulte (53) headed the department of Business Consulting, Corporate Finance, Taxes and Foreign Trade from 2008 to 2019. In addition, the Business graduate as managing director the Juniors of the Crafts and was Contact person for women in the skilled trades, especially for the next generation of managers in the skilled trades. In 2019, she moved to internal administration and was elected Managing Director for Finance and Internal Administration and Budget Officer of the Chamber of Skilled Crafts on January 1, 2020. Focus on further modernization and digitalization of administrative work.

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