What was your main moti­va­tion for taking on the role of Works Council Chair again?

I am taking on the chair­man­ship again because code­ter­mi­na­tion, fair­ness, and respectful inter­ac­tion within the company are impor­tant to me. As long as I feel that I can make a differ­ence and have the support I need, I am willing to take on this respon­si­bility. We are facing major and impor­tant chal­lenges, and it was impor­tant to me to contribute to ensuring that we continue on this path together — in a struc­tured, trans­parent, and consis­tent manner, and always in the best interest of our employees.

What do you partic­u­larly like about your work, and what is impor­tant to you?

What I value most about my work is the variety of topics — no day is like the other, and that’s exactly what makes the job exciting. I am moti­vated by the fact that you can actively help shape the working envi­ron­ment and truly make a differ­ence. You gain insights into all facets of the company and into very different tasks and chal­lenges. This overall picture, combined with the oppor­tu­nity to have an impact, is what makes the work so inter­esting to me.

How do you like the new compo­si­tion of the Works Council and the full-time repre­sen­ta­tives?

I am very much looking forward to working with the new colleagues. New members bring new ideas and perspec­tives. This is extremely impor­tant, as it broadens our view of situ­a­tions and enables clearer and more well‑founded assess­ments. That’s why it is crucial for the council to be broadly posi­tioned and to incor­po­rate different view­points. Just like the previous members, the new ones also contribute their strengths, and each and every one plays a part in ensuring that our joint work func­tions as effec­tively as possible.
I am espe­cially pleased that we were able to appoint Rolf as the Deputy Chair and Kim as a full‑time repre­sen­ta­tive. Both are a great support in my day‑to‑day work, and I can always rely on them completely.
This is also why I am confi­dent that, in this new constel­la­tion, our Works Council office is very well posi­tioned and that we will achieve a great deal together.

What are the next steps?

The next step will be a retreat, during which we will define our strategic direc­tion and the key prior­i­ties of the Works Council for the coming years. At the same time, it is impor­tant for us as a newly formed council to continue growing together, clarify roles, and estab­lish a shared working foun­da­tion.
Our goal is to define a clear and aligned course of action in the near future, outlining how we will approach upcoming topics in a struc­tured and effec­tive way. We are already active in some areas, and further topics will follow. What matters most is a united and strategic approach — always in the interest of our employees.
So things remain exciting, and we look ahead to the coming period with confi­dence. Let’s get to work!!

What role does the deputy chair­man­ship of the Works Council play for you person­ally?

For me person­ally, this posi­tion is some­thing like the high­light of my profes­sional career. It may sound a bit emotional, but this is exactly where I want to be: taking respon­si­bility, shaping things, and making sure they get imple­mented.
I work very closely with Alex Brücker; we comple­ment each other well, and I believe we form an effec­tive and func­tional team.

What are your expec­ta­tions for this term of office?

When I look at the economic situ­a­tion, the state of the world, and the rapidly emerging power of AI, my expec­ta­tions are clear: the next four years will be chal­lenging. For me as a Works Council member, this means being even closer to the people and even closer to the deci­sion-makers — to recog­nize devel­op­ments early and to influ­ence deci­sions in a mean­ingful way.

What makes good day-to-day collab­o­ra­tion within the Works Council Exec­u­tive Committee?

There are three things that are essen­tial to me:
Discus­sions. It is good to have different opin­ions. Things may even get a bit contro­ver­sial at times. In the end, however, consensus must always prevail.

Deter­mi­na­tion. Not giving in imme­di­ately when facing head­winds. Some­times you have to be willing to rub people the wrong way — that’s part of the job.

Respect. Acting at eye level, responding to argu­ments, and always seeing the person in front of you as someone with good inten­tions. In that sense, I’m happy to call myself an idealist!

In which areas do you want to contribute in partic­ular?

In my view, the impact of AI will be massive. One of my key prior­i­ties will be to find the right balance between cold tech­nology and people, to influ­ence the employer’s planned initia­tives, and to help manage the personnel-related conse­quences.
Another impor­tant focus will be strength­ening the Laupheim site. Core processes must remain in Laupheim. Achieving this requires a strong Works Council that can ensure long-term success and prevent us from falling for short‑term trends.

What moti­vated you to run for a full-time Works Council posi­tion?

I have been a member of the Works Council for 12 years now. Working with and for my colleagues gives me great joy and is some­thing I care deeply about.

In recent years, however, I increas­ingly real­ized that I could not give this respon­sible role the full atten­tion and energy it deserves while contin­uing in my previous job at the same time.

For this reason, I decided to put myself forward for a full-time Works Council posi­tion.

I am very happy to have been elected and grateful for the trust placed in me by the council. This trust means a great deal to me and moti­vates me to commit myself even more actively and passion­ately to the inter­ests of my colleagues in the future.

How would you like to contribute to further devel­oping the work of the Works Council as a full-time member?

I don’t just want to react — I want to act proac­tively. I want to iden­tify topics, address them, and drive them forward, always together with my fellow Works Council members.

Is there a topic that is espe­cially close to your heart and that you would like to focus on more strongly now?

Every­thing related to social matters — this is where I see my strengths, and it’s an area I want to drive forward.

What do you wish for in terms of collab­o­ra­tion within the newly formed council?

Consis­tently good, fair — and occa­sion­ally even heated — conver­sa­tions and discus­sions, as well as collab­o­ra­tion on equal footing, where we all pursue the same goal: the well-being of our colleagues, but also of the company. After all, one cannot exist without the other.