Administrative Shifts
Personnel Changes and Policy Developments in German Politics and Business
July 2025 saw a series of notable personnel and policy-related developments in German politics and businesses. Here's a roundup of some key changes:
In politics, Ankerstein took over as National Director of UN Refugee Assistance on July 21st, while Monar became department head for "Crisis Prevention, Stabilization, Peace Promotion and Humanitarian Aid" in the Foreign Office on the same day. Ahrendts also joined the Foreign Office as department head for "International Order, United Nations and Arms Control." On July 28th, Wagner became State Secretary for the Interior in Brandenburg.
In the corporate sector, Kramer became the new division manager at ENTEGA on July 21st. Mielke switched to APCO Berlin, and Ochtrop strengthened Teneo as a consultant around the same time. Schisanowski strengthened Public Affairs at Vonovia, and Moehle heads Public Affairs at Knauf Insulation.
On July 14th, Okpara was confirmed as CEO, and Kaesbach became the new State Secretary for Finance. On the same day, Emig strengthened the Berlin office of Fuchs & Cie., and Wuerz became Manager Political Relations at the Lufthansa Group.
In addition, Kowalewski heads the ministerial office of Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder, Beinhoff became department head for "Culture and Society" in the Foreign Office, and Mishra heads remembrance culture.
Between July 14th and July 28th, there were no explicit reports of individual personnel changes in the political or corporate executive ranks. However, it is worth noting that the main personnel-related developments concern expansion plans in the military and ongoing leadership collaboration between government and business.
It is important to note that individuals have the option to report a personnel change to P&K, but the process for doing so, as well as any potential consequences for failing to report or reporting late or incorrectly, are not specified. It is also not clear if there is a specific format or method for reporting a personnel change to P&K.
In other news, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced significant planned cuts in unemployment benefits on July 15th, signaling a policy shift rather than a personnel change within the government itself. Around mid-July, the government discussed expanding and reinforcing the Bundeswehr, with calls from Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier for increasing military personnel, potentially reinstating conscription to add 50,000–60,000 soldiers. This reflects strategic personnel expansion in defense rather than individual appointments.
In the business sphere, German Chancellor Merz engaged with major business leaders by July 22nd to foster collaboration aimed at economic recovery post-recession. While this demonstrates political-business alignment at leadership levels, it does not specify new appointments or executive departures. However, at the end of July, there were large-scale labor protests involving ZF Friedrichshafen AG, a major German auto supplier, reflecting tensions in workforce and management relations but no direct reporting of personnel changes within the company's top management.
Lastly, on July 28th, Nikoloff switched to Kekst CNC, and Stascheit joined POLITICO. Schauerte moved from the Chancellery to the Konrad Adenauer House.
[1] Source: https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/soziales/merz-wolfs-forderung-zu-kuerzungen-bei-arbeitslosengeld-a-129072428.html [2] Source: https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/wehr-erweiterung-101.html [3] Source: https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/soziales/zf-streik-in-friedrichshafen-arbeiter-gehen-in-streik-a-129075611.html [4] Source: https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/merz-trefft-unternehmen-fuehrungskraefte-an-um-wirtschafts-wiederaufbau-zu-helfen/26937718.html
Public affairs in German politics and business saw developments with Monar and Beinhoff taking on department head roles in the Foreign Office and joining the ranks of those responsible for "Crisis Prevention, Stabilization, Peace Promotion and Humanitarian Aid," and "Culture and Society," respectively. In the corporate sector, Moehle heads Public Affairs at Knauf Insulation, adding to the general-news of notable personnel changes in public affairs and politics.
On the political front, policy developments were evident with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announcing planned cuts in unemployment benefits, signaling a policy shift, while discussions were underway regarding expanding and reinforcing the Bundeswehr, potentially reinstating conscription to add 50,000–60,000 soldiers – both reflecting strategic personnel expansion in defense and social welfare policy sectors. In business, while there were no direct reports of personnel changes within company's top management, there were large-scale labor protests involving ZF Friedrichshafen AG, demonstrating tensions in workforce and management relations.
