Suche
Mein Konto
Christian O. Erbe says goodbye after 15 years as IHK President
Christian O. Erbe is ending his presidency of the IHK Reutlingen after 15 years. He is planning new involvement in the healthcare industry.
Christian O. Erbe says goodbye after 15 years as IHK President
After playing a key role in shaping the fortunes of the Reutlingen Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) for almost two decades, Christian O. Erbe will end his presidency on July 24th. His departure marks the end of an era in which he not only took care of local concerns, but also the challenges of the entire German economy. [SWR] reports that Erbe was confronted with extraordinary challenges in his 15 years as President of the IHK Reutlingen and two additional years as President of the IHK Baden-Württemberg, including the energy transition after Fukushima, the Ukraine conflict and the Covid-19 pandemic.
During his active time, he processed over 200,000 applications for emergency aid for companies during the pandemic. This commitment clearly highlights its importance for the regional economy. An important concern for Erbe has always been to strengthen the political perception of the economy at regional and national levels.
New phase of life
Handing over the role of president does not come without further plans. Christian O. Erbe will be increasingly involved in the area of industrial healthcare in the future. This decision was not easy for him, but he has already accepted a new position at the Federal Association of German Industry, which is only possible for him because he is handing over his IHK responsibilities. Despite his new challenges, he wants his workload to remain high and plans to travel a lot - because his work in the new position requires a good network, which he wants to build in the region and beyond.
Erbe, born in Tübingen in 1961, looks back on an extensive career at Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH. Since 1992 he has worked in this traditional family business, which was founded in 1851. The first steps in his career took him into the Eastern European business and then to North America. These international experiences not only shaped his perspective on the economy, but also his work within the IHK [IHK Reutlingen].
Strong support from committees
Many important achievements in the Reutlingen Chamber of Industry and Commerce are directly related to Erbe's commitment to other committees. In 2004 he was appointed to the board of the ZVEI e.V. Electromedical Technology Association and took over as chairman in 2014. He has also been a member of the general assembly of the Reutlingen Chamber of Industry and Commerce since 2005 and was elected president in 2010. His role in the German Association of Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) also underlines his commitment to the interests of companies.
Erbe will not only be remembered as a successful president, but he is also actively planning the successor to the IHK presidency. He has already held discussions about possible successors to ensure that the Reutlingen Chamber of Industry and Commerce is well positioned in the future. Despite his withdrawal from the IHK, he wants to remain in dialogue and hopes to receive invitations to future events.
Another aspect of his life remains family. He hopes that his wife can accompany him on his business trips and emphasizes how important family ties are to him. With a clear view of the future, Christian O. Erbe will begin a new phase in his professional career while looking back with pride on his achievements at the Reutlingen Chamber of Industry and Commerce.